• Budget Session Prorogued after PM Speech

ISLAMABAD, June 30, 2020: The National Assembly concluded its budget session on Tuesday after speech of Prime Minister in the absence of opposition and approval of 71 Supplementary Demands for Grants for the fiscal year 2019-20, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during 18^th (last) sitting of the 22^nd session f NA:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for five hours and 27 minutes.
• The proceedings started at 1119 hours against the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for two hours and 58 minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leader of the House (Prime Minister) attended the sitting for an hour and 52 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was not present.
• A total of 41 lawmakers (12%) were present at the outset and 151 (44%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leader of PPPP, PML-N, PML, BAP and JWP attended the sitting.
• Seven out of 10 minority lawmakers were also present during the proceedings.

 Output 

• The House approved 71 Supplementary Demands for Grants for the fiscal year 2019-20 while Excess Demands for Grants and Appropriation for the financial years, 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011,2012, 2012-2013 and 2013-2014 were also approved.
• The Minister for Industries and Production tabled the Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2020-2021, Supplementary Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2019-2020 and Excess Schedule of Authorized Expenditure 2009-2010, 2010-2011, 2011, 2012, 2012- 2013 and 2013-2014.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Fifteen lawmakers participated in the general discussion on Supplementary Demands for Grants and Appropriations for the financial year 2019-2020. They spoke on it for two hours and eight minutes. However, most of the lawmakers touched the political issues during this debate.
• The Prime Minister also spoke for 44 minutes on the issues related to economy, politics and the government efforts to tackle situation after COVID-19. He thanked all those lawmakers who supported in passage of budget and paid tributes to those who foiled terrorist attack on stock exchange building in Karachi.

Order and Institutionalization

• Nine lawmakers spoke on points of order for 28 minutes.
• The opposition lawmakers walked out of the House at 1421 ours against the Chair’s attitude who did not allow a PPPP lawmaker to respond the political speech of Minister for Maritime Affairs. They, except an MMAP lawmaker, did not return to the House till adjournment of the sitting.
• The guideline of safe distancing to prevent spread of COVID-19 was minimum observed by the lawmakers in the House.
• The Session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers was available to the media and observers.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly’s proceedings, conducted by the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).