ISLAMABAD, May 28, 2021: The Punjab Assembly concluded debate on agriculture sector and took up two zero hour notices related to education sector and law and order, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet on Friday.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the fifth sitting of the 32nd session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for an hour and 26 minutes.
• The sitting started at 11:20 am against the scheduled time of 09:00 am.
• The speaker and the deputy speaker were absent.
• A member of panel of chairpersons presided over the entire sitting.
• The leader of the House (chief minister) and the opposition leader did not attend the sitting.
• As many as 21 MPAs (six percent) were present at the outset and 73 (five percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• None of the parliamentary leaders attended the sitting.
• Only one out of eight minority lawmakers was present.

Output

• Minister for law presented a report regrading special study on provision of non-salary Budget in school of  Sheikhupura district, for the Audit Year 2017-18.
• The Minister for agriculture concluded debate on agriculture sector and spoke for five minutes.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up ten out of 29 starred questions related to Higher Education Department. Besides, the lawmakers asked 17 supplementary questions.
• Sponsored by a PML lawmaker, the House referred an adjournment motion (AM) to special committee. The AM was regarding transforming of Social Security Hospital Sahiwal into dispensary.
• The House took up two zero hour notices regarding robbery incidents in Faisalabad and charging of complete fees by private schools in Lahore despite closure during pandemic. These notices were submitted by PML-N and PTI lawmakers.
• The Chair deferred two zero hour notices on the request of relevant ministers while one notice was deferred following mover’s request.
• Three zero hour notices were disposed of due to movers’ absence.

 Order and Institutionalization

• Four lawmakers spoke on points of order for 13 minutes related to political victimization of a PML-N lawmaker.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, May 31, 2021 at 02:00 pm.

Transparency

• ‘List of Business’ was available on Punjab Assembly’s website.
• Information on Members’ attendance is available on Punjab Assembly’s website.

This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by SANGAT Development Foundation, a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted