ISLAMABAD, July 20, 2020:  The National Assembly left its legislative business unaddressed on Monday and started debate on the privatization policy of the government, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 8^th sitting of 23^rd session:

Members’ Participation

• The Assembly met for three hours and 14 minutes. However, the proceedings remained suspended for 19 minutes due to prayer break.
• The sitting started at 1621 hours against the scheduled time of 1600 hours.
• The Speaker presided over the sitting for an hour and nine minutes while the remaining sitting was chaired by the Deputy Speaker.
• The Leaders of House (Prime Minister) and the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• The Parliamentary Leader of PML-N and PPPP attended the sitting.
• As many as 34 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 65 (19%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• As many as six out of 10 minority lawmakers were present.

 Output

• Advisor to Prime Minister on Parliamentary Affairs laid the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020.
• The Periodical Report of the Standing Committee for the period July – December, 2019, as required by rule 234-A of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007 was presented in the House.
• The House did not consider the legislative business appearing on the agenda.

Representation and Responsiveness

• Three lawmakers participated in debate on the motion under Rule 259 regarding privatization policy of the government and spoke for an hour and three minutes.
• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices regarding government plan to curtail he retirement age of Government employees to 55 years and decrease in the testing for COVID-19 in the country.
• The House took up seven out of 30 starred questions during the question hour while lawmakers also asked 16 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization

• Two lawmakers spoke on points of order for five minutes.
• A PML-N lawmaker pointed out the quorum but it was found complete upon counting which took eight minutes of the proceedings.
• The House was adjourned to meet again on July 21, 2020 (Tuesday) at 1600 hours.

 Transparency

• Orders of the Day was available to the legislators, observers and public.
• Attendance of lawmakers is available on the National Assembly’s website

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