ISLAMABAD, May 13, 2019: The Senate adopted four resolutions, including the recommendation to take Central Superior Services (CSS) examination in the national language Urdu, as well, and passed the Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2018 on Monday, observes Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during 12^th (last) sitting of 288^th session:

Members’ Participation

• The House met for three hours and 45 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1100 hours.
• The Chairman presided over the entire sitting.
• The Deputy Chairman was not present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for three hours and 16 minutes.
• The Leader of the Opposition was present for two hours and 57 minutes.
• As many as 11 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 20 (19%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
• The parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, JUI-F, ANP, JI, BAP, PPPP and BNP-M attended the sitting.
• Two out of four minority lawmakers were also present.

Output

• Tabled by an MQM lawmaker, the House passed the Pakistan Courier and Logistics Regulatory Authority Bill, 2018.
• The Leader of the House introduced the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power (Amendment) Bill, 2019, which was referred to the relevant committee.
• Tabled by a JI lawmaker, the House adopted a resolution recommending to take examinations of Central Superior Services (CSS) in national language Urdu along with English.
• Individually moved by NP and JUI-F lawmakers, the House adopted two other resolutions to extend Prime Minister’s Scholarship Programme for the students of Balochistan for further five years and devise an efficient mechanism to measure the performance of commercial counselors, commercial secretaries and trade ministers posted in Pakistan’s Missions.
• The House adopted another joint resolution to retain the Headquarters of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in Karachi rather than Islamabad. The resolution was jointly sponsored by PPPP, ANP, BNP-M, PML-N BNP-M and Independent lawmakers.
• The House rejected a resolution for allocation of separate quota for the students of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) in the public sector medical and dental colleges in the country. It was sponsored by an MQM lawmaker.
• Another resolution about shifting the headquarters of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) from Lahore to Islamabad was deferred on the mover’s request while the mover did not press to consider another resolution to revise the Master Plan of Islamabad Capital Territory.
• The House adopted a motion to grant 60-day extension to the Standing Committee on Petroleum for presentation of its report regarding shortage of gas in the country.
• The House adopted a motion authorizing the Chairman Senate to nominate Senators in the Parliamentary Committee constituted to ensure steps for protection to minorities.

Representation and Responsiveness

• As many as 11 lawmakers took part in discussion on an Adjournment Motion regarding recent increase in the prices of petroleum products. They spoke for about an hour and 12 minutes while the Minister for Power and Petroleum Divisions concluded the debate.
• Three lawmakers spoke on matters of public importance for 12 minutes.

Order and Institutionalization

• The Session was prorogued sine die.

Transparency

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

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