ISLAMABAD, March 04, 2015: The Senate’s 111th session was prorogued on Wednesday, soon after the end of its fourth sitting. The upper house has held nine sessions during the ongoing parliamentary year, says Free and Fair Election Network in its daily factsheet.

Ten (10%) senators were present at the start of the sitting and 34 (33%) at the time of adjournment. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present during the entire sitting.

The House witnessed the presentation of six reports. These include 1st report of the Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping from March 2012 to March 2015; the report of Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas from June 8, 2012 to December 4, 2014; the report of  Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications from July 2012 to March 2015; the report of Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination from July 2012 to January 2015; the report of Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources from  June 2012 to  December 2014; and the report on Standing Committee on Communications and Postal Services from February 2014 to  February 2015.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) sponsored by ANP lawmakers regarding non-provision of funds for ongoing gas projects in Lower Dir.

Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:

Members’ Participation in House Proceedings

• The Senate met for an hour and nine minutes.
• The sitting started at 1533 hours against the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was also present.
• The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting, while the Opposition Leader was present for entire sitting.
• The Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• Ten members (10%) were present at the start and 34 (33%) at the end of the sitting.
• A maximum of 42 senators (40%) were present at one point of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PML and ANP were present.
• Two minority members were present during the sitting.
• Six members applied for leave.

Output

• The House witnessed the presentation of 1st report of the Standing Committee on Ports and Shipping for the period from March 2012 to March 2015; report of Functional Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas from June 8, 2012 to December 4, 2014; report of Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications from July 2012 to March 2015; report of Standing Committee on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination for the period from July 2012 to January 2015; report of Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Resources from  June 2012 to December 2014; and report on Standing Committee on Communications and Postal Services from February 2014 to February 2015. 

Representation and Responsiveness                    

• The House took up a CAN sponsored by ANP lawmakers regarding non-provision of funds for ongoing gas projects in Lower Dir.
• Nine out of 27 starred questions were taken up and responded to by the relevant ministries. In addition, the legislators raised 19 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• Five points of order consumed nine minutes of the proceedings’ time.

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This publication has been produced with the assistance of the European Union. The contents of this publication are the sole responsibility of FAFEN and in no way reflect the views of the European Union. This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.