ISLAMABAD, February 22, 2018: The Senate on Thursday took up the entire agenda appearing on the Orders of the Day and discussed political situation in the country, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the proceedings during the ninth sitting of 273^rd session:

 Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for two hours and 46 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1500 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the sitting for an hour and 39 minutes while rests of the proceedings were chaired by a member of Panel of Presiding Officers.
• Prime Minister did not attend the sitting.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for 60 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
•  As many as 10 (9%) lawmakers were present at the outset and 15 (14%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of MQM, PPPP, PkMAP, NP, and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Two minority lawmakers were present.

Output 

• Chairman Standing Committee on Commerce and Textile Industry presented report on recommendations and guidelines of the Committee on completion of its tenure (2015-18).
• Chairman Functional Committee on Government Assurances presented report on the assurance given by the Minister-in-Charge, Prime Minister’s Office in response to a question about handing over of newly constructed building of a school in District Mansehra to the Education Department.
• Chairman, Standing Committee on Finance presented report on a Calling Attention Notice (CAN) regarding pending approval of 7500 sanctioned new posts (SNEs) for FATA.
• On behalf of the Chairman Standing Committee on Energy, a member of the Committee presented report on the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2017.

Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two CANs regarding difficulties being faced by the Kalash Community and the delay in NFC Award.
• State Minister for Finance reported on the status of implementation of the recommendations contained in the reports of the Special Committee on twenty four demands made by the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
• State Minister for Finance and Minister for Climate Change responded on two points of public importance which were regarding media reports about detention of 200 Pakistanis Bagram prison Afghanistan and closure of PIA flights from Quetta to Dubai and Quetta to Turbat and Gwadar.
• The House passed two motions under Rule 194 (1) to grant extension to Standing Committees on Law and Justice and Cabinet Secretariat for presentation of their reports.
• Minister for Climate Change winded up the discussion on an adjournment motion regarding Pakistan’s greenhouse emissions and its effect on the environment. He spoke for six minutes.
• The House took up six out of 22 Starred Questions for answers during the Question Hour. The lawmakers asked sixteen supplementary questions as well.
• As many as thirteen lawmakers spoke on Points of Public Importance consuming 51 minutes of the proceedings. Most of these points were related to political situation and international mother language day held on February 21.

 Order and Institutionalization 

• A PPPP lawmaker staged a token walk out of the House for three minutes against the delay in NFC award.

Transparency

• ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• The attendance of lawmakers is available on the website.

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This daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Senate proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted