ISLAMABAD, June 05, 2015: The incumbent PML-N government presented its third budget in the 14th National Assembly with a total outlay of Rs.4.31 trillion on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization presented the budget 2015-16 during the first sitting of the 23^rd NA session.

The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition were present during the entire sitting.

Following are some key observations of the parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in the House Proceedings:

• The National Assembly met for two hours and 17 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1655 hours against the scheduled time of 1630 hours.
• The Speaker chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
• The Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition attended the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of JI, PkMAP, PML-F, MQM, QWP, ANP, APML, JUI-F, AMLP, BNP and PML-Z were present.
• 178 members (52% of the total membership – 342) were present at the outset while 221 (65%) at the time of adjournment.
• A maximum of 236 legislators (69%) were observed to be present at one point of the sitting.
• Eight minority members were present during the sitting.

Output

• The Finance Bill 2015 appearing on the Orders of the Day was taken up by the House.
• Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization laid papers on Supplementary Demands for Grants and Appropriations for the financial year, 2014-2015.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Presenting the budget, the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, Statistics and Privatization addressed the House for two hours and two minutes.

Order and Institutionalization 

•  No Point of Order was raised during the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was not available to observers and the public.
• The copies of the budget speech were available to the concerned.

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The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the National Assembly proceedings conducted by Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI) – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.