ISLAMABAD, June 29, 2016: The Punjab Assembly approved 37 Supplementary Demands for Grants for 2015-16 on Wednesday during last (11th) sitting of 22nd (Budget) session, says Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Following are some key observations of the House proceedings:
Members’ Participation
- The Punjab Assembly met for two hours and 32 minutes.
- The sitting started at 1118 hours against the scheduled time of 1000 hours.
- The Speaker presided over the entire sitting while the Deputy Speaker was also present.
- The Chief Minister did not attend the sitting.
- The Leader of the Opposition attended the sitting for two hours and eight minutes.
- The Finance Minister attended the sitting for two hours and 28 minutes.
- 38 lawmakers (10%) were present at the outset and 105 (28%) at the adjournment of the sitting.
- The parliamentary leader of PPPP attended the sitting.
- Eight minority members were present.
Output
- The Finance Minister concluded the General Discussion on Supplementary Budget 2015-16. Her speech consumed 13 minutes of the sitting.
- The House approved 37 Supplementary Demands for Grants 2015-2016.
- Eight lawmakers discussed two Cut Motions consuming 58 minutes. The motions were rejected by the House.
- The Finance Minister laid the Supplementary Schedule of Authorized Expenditure for the year 2015-2016.
Representation and Responsiveness
- The House referred an Adjournment Motion regarding increase in the shop’s rent in Sargodha to the relevant committee. Meanwhile, another AM was deferred.
- The House also referred a Privilege Motion of PTI lawmaker to the Committee on Privileges.
Order and Institutionalization
- The lawmakers spoke on five Points of Order consuming seven minutes of the proceedings.
- A PML-N lawmaker protested on floor of the House against the remarks of a minister about lawmaker’s statement regarding budget spending of the Ministry of Human Rights.
- A PTI lawmaker staged walkout at 1314 hours for not being allowed to speak on Cut Motions and did not return to the House till the adjournment.
Transparency
- ‘Orders of the Day’ was available to the legislators, observers and public.
- Information on members’ attendance is available on the Assembly’s website.
The daily factsheet is based on direct observation of the Punjab Assembly proceedings conducted by PATTAN Development Organization – a member organization of FAFEN. Errors and omissions are excepted.
