ISLAMABAD, March 20, 2014: The Provincial Assembly gave approval to the Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, Neo-natal and Child Health Authority Bill, 2014 during tenth sitting of ongoing 7^th session on Thursday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Fourteen legislators, including six each of PTI, PML-N and two of PML, discussed the budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 for three hours and ten minutes. The lawmakers appreciated the government for holding debate on the upcoming budget and highlighted the issues of their respective constituencies, which were related to the health, education and agriculture.

The parliamentary secretary for Revenue and Colonies responded to 15 out of 27 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Nine questions were disposed of due to the absence of movers while three were deferred. The members also asked 26 supplementary questions.

The provincial law minister replied to two calling attention notices (CANs) moved separately by PML-N and PTI lawmakers. The CANs were about seeking details in the cases of rape of a girl in Nankana Sahib and the dacoity in a sugar mill in Kasur district.

The House also took up two adjournment motions (AMs), which were about shifting of fruit and vegetable market in Lahore and increase in prices of water bills. Both the AMs were disposed of after getting response from the treasury.

The lawmakers raised 7 points of order consuming 6 minutes of the proceedings.

Following are some key observations of the Parliamentary business:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:

• The Punjab Assembly met for five hours and 29 minutes.
• The sitting started at 1134 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of an hour and 34 minutes.
• A total of 62 members were present at the start, 18 at the adjournment while a maximum of 115 at a point during the proceedings.
• The Deputy Speaker chaired the entire sitting except for an hour and six minutes when a member of the panel of chairpersons presided over the proceedings.
• The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for three hours and 20 minutes.
• The parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
• Six minority members were present.
• No member applied for the leave.
  

Output

• The Provincial Assembly gave approval to the Punjab Reproductive, Maternal, Neo-natal and Child Health Authority Bill, 2014. The bill provides establishment of an authority to regulate the affairs of the employees of National Program for Primary Health Care and Family Planning.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Fourteen legislators, including six each of PTI, PML-N and two of PML, discussed the budget for fiscal year 2014-2015 for three hours and ten minutes. The lawmakers appreciated the government for holding debate on upcoming budget and highlighted the issues of their respective constituencies, which were related to the health, education and agriculture.
• The parliamentary secretary for Revenue and Colonies responded to 15 out of 27 starred questions (requiring oral as well as written replies). Nine questions were disposed of due to absence of the movers while three were deferred. The members also asked 26 supplementary questions.
• The provincial law minister responded to two calling attention notices. The House also took up two adjournment motions which were disposed of after getting response from the treasury.

Order and Institutionalization

• There was no instance of walkout, boycott or protest during the proceedings.
• The lawmakers raised 7 points of order consuming 6 minutes of the proceedings.

Transparency

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

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