ISLAMABAD, June 24, 2013: Forty-five members took part in general discussion on the annual budget before it was concluded by the Finance Minister in fifth sitting of the Punjab Assembly’s second session on Monday. The House also adopted a resolution to condemn the killing of tourists in Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan.

Thirty-eight members of PMLN, four of PTI, two of PML, and one of PPPP took part in budget debate. They discussed the budgetary proposals for four hours and 15 minutes. The Finance Minister spoke for 35 minutes.

The sitting, which lasted five hours and 34 minutes, was marked by low attendance. Only 87 members were present at the outset while 77 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 102 members were present at one point of sitting. A PTI legislator pointed out the quorum at 1431 hours followed by ringing of bells for five minutes. The proceedings resumed thereafter as the required number of members were present.

The Speaker chaired the sitting for four hours and 42 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.

Following are some key observations of the proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for five hours and 34 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1148 hours against the scheduled starting time of 1100 hours, witnessing a delay of 48 minutes.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for four hours and 42 minutes while the remaining proceedings were presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• As many as 87 members were present at the outset while 77 were there at the time of adjournment. A maximum of 102 members were present at one point of sitting.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and 35 minutes.
• The finance minister attended the sitting for two hours and 52 minutes.
• Four minority members attended the sitting.
  

Representation and Responsiveness

• Forty-five members – 38 of PMLN, four of PTI, two of PML, and one of PPPP – took part in budget debate. They discussed the budgetary proposals for four hours and 15 minutes.
• The Finance Minister concluded the budget debate. He spoke for 35 minutes. 
  

Output

• The House adopted a resolution to condemn the killing of tourists in Nanga Parbat, Gilgit-Baltistan.
  

Order and Institutionalization

• Seventeen Points of Order consumed 10 minutes of the sitting time.
• A PTI legislator pointed out the quorum at 1431 hours followed by ringing of bells for five minutes. The proceedings resumed thereafter as the required number of members were present.

Transparency

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

The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN, a member organization of FAFEN