ISLAMABAD, June 16, 2015: The Punjab Assembly continued to debate the annual budget on Tuesday amid low attendance of lawmakers, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).

The sitting started 74 minutes behind the schedule with 30 members (8% of the total membership) present at the start and 13 (4%) at the time of adjournment.

Twenty-one members – 14 from PML-N, four from PTI, two from PML and one JI member – shared their views on the budget for 87% of the proceedings’ time.

The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for 13 minutes.

Following are some key observations of the assembly business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Punjab Assembly met for three hours and nine minutes.
• The sitting started at 1114 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• 30 members (8%) were present at the start and 13 (4%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 64 members (17%) attended the sitting.
• The Speaker chaired the sitting for two hours and 22 minutes.
• The remaining time was presided over by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Opposition Leader was present for 13 minutes.
• The Finance Minister attended the entire sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PPPP and JI were present.
• Three minority members attended the proceedings.
• No member applied for the leave.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Twenty-one lawmakers debated the annual provincial budget for 164 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• Two points of order consumed three minutes of the sitting.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
• Information on members’ attendance was also available to the observers and the public.

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This 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 excepted.