Pre-Budget Discussion Continues in Punjab Assembly

ISLAMABAD, April 8, 2016: The Provincial Assembly of Punjab continued pre-budget discussion during the 8th sitting of its ongoing 20th session on Friday that consumed 48% (67 minutes) of the sitting time, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

Following are some key observations of the House proceeding:

Members’ Participation in House Proceeding

  • The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 21 minutes.
  • The sitting started at 1004 hours against the scheduled time of 9 AM.
  • The Speaker was absent.
  • The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting.
  • The Leader of the House was not present while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for 45 minutes.
  • Twelve lawmakers (3%) were present at the start and 17 (5%) at the end of the sitting.
  • No Parliamentary Leader was present.
  • Two minority members attended the sitting.

Representation and Responsiveness

  • Eleven lawmakers – PML-N (08), PTI (2), and PML (1) – participated in pre-budget discussion for 67 minutes.
  • Six of the 12 starred questions appearing on the agenda were taken up. In addition, lawmakers asked 13 supplementary questions.
  • Three adjournment motions were kept pending due to non-submission of their replies.

Order and Institutionalization

  • Four Points of Order consumed as many minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

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

The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are regretted.