Budget Session Prorogued
ISLAMABAD, June 25, 2014: The Sindh Assembly passed the Sindh Finance Bill, 2014 as well as 112 Demands for Grants while rejecting all the cut motions of the opposition on Wednesday during 9th sitting of its 13th session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.
The Chief Minister Sindh, who is also the Finance Minister, moved the Sindh Finance Bill, 2014 and proposed three amendments in it, which were accepted. Meanwhile, the parliamentary leader of MQM withdrew 11 amendments proposed in the Finance Bill.
The opposition lawmakers moved 83 cut motions against 59 Demands for Grants for financial year 2014-2015. Moreover, 35 cut motions were moved against 53 Demands for Supplementary Grants for financial year 2013-2014. The House approved all of the Demands for Grants while rejecting the cut motions.
The Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and a treasury lawmaker made speeches congratulating the House on the passage of Finance Bill. Their speeches consumed 28 minutes of the proceedings.
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation in House Proceedings:
- The Sindh Assembly met for five hours and one minute.
- The sitting started at 1043 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours, witnessing a delay of 43 minutes.
- The Speaker chaired the sitting for four hours and one minute while the Deputy Speaker presided over for an hour.
- The Chief Minister was present for three hours and 39 minutes while the Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for four hours and 50 minutes.
- The parliamentary leaders of PML-N, PTI, MQM and NPP attended the sitting.
- Seventy members were present at the outset while a maximum of 111 were there at the adjournment.
- Six minority members attended the sitting.
- No member applied for the leave.
Output
- The Chief Minister Sindh, who is also the Finance Minister, moved the Sindh Finance Bill, 2014 and proposed three amendments in it, which were accepted. Meanwhile, the parliamentary leader of MQM withdrew 11 amendments proposed in the Finance Bill.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The opposition lawmakers moved 83 cut motions against 59 Demands for Grants for financial year 2014-2015. Moreover, 35 cut motions were moved against 53 Demands for Supplementary Grants for financial year 2013-2014. The House approved all of the Demands for Grants while rejecting the cut motions.
- The Chief Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Provincial Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and a treasury lawmaker made speeches congratulating the House on passage of the Finance Bill. Their speeches consumed 28 minutes of the proceedings.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and others.
- Information on members’ attendance was available to observers and the public.
The Daily Factsheet is based on direct observation of Sindh Assembly proceedings conducted by Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF), a member organization of FAFEN
