ISLAMABAD, July 22, 2016: The Senate transacted its entire agenda appearing on ‘Order of the Day’ during 5^th sitting of its 250^th session on Friday, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are some key observations of the House business:

Members’ Participation

• The Senate met for two hours and 27 minutes.
• The sitting started at the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
• The Chairman chaired the entire sitting while the Deputy Chairman was also present.
• The Leader of the House attended the sitting for two hours and eight minutes while the Leader of the Opposition did not attend the sitting.
• Parliamentary leaders of PkMAP, PPPP, PTI, PML, NP and PML-N attended the sitting.
• Eight members (7% of the total membership -104) were present at the outset and 28 members (27%) at the end of the sitting.
• Four minority Senators attended the sitting.

Output

• The Senate adopted a resolution to express solidarity with Kashmiri people over Indian aggression in the valley and urged the international community to support their right of self-determination.
• Chairman Standing Committee on Commerce presented report on the budgetary allocation and its utilization by the Ministry of Commerce and its allied/ attached Departments. He also presented special report of the Committee for the period from May, 2015 to May, 2016.
• On behalf of Chairman  Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, an Independent Senator presented 7^th follow up report regarding  proposed “conversion  of  1400  acres  land  of National  Agricultural  Research  Centre by  the  Capital  Development Authority into residential/commercial plots”.

 Representation and Responsiveness

• The House took up two Calling Attention Notices (CANs). he first CAN was regarding continuous delay in 8^th NFC Award while other notice was about acute shortage of water in various sectors of Islamabad.
• The Chair did not admit two adjournment motions on the agenda for being against the admissibility criteria.
• The House took all 21 starred questions appearing on the agenda. In addition, the lawmakers also asked 29 supplementary questions.

Order and Institutionalization 

• Eighteen Points of Public Importance consumed 52 minutes of the proceeding.
• The entire Opposition walked out of the House for two minutes against the unscheduled load shedding in the country and attitude of Chairman WAPDA reportedly running campaign in favor of Kala Bagh Dam.

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 proceeding conducted by Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN). Errors and omissions are excepted