ISLAMABAD, Feb 27 (APP): The Senate on Friday extended the time for presentation of committee reports on three private members’ bills and passed the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025, paving the way for the establishment of a regulatory authority for the licensing and supervision of virtual assets and related service providers.
Senator Danesh Kumar, on behalf of Senator Atta-ur-Rehman, chairman of the Standing Committee on Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, moved a motion under Rule 194(1) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, seeking a 60-day extension for presentation of the committee’s report on the Muslim Family Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2024.
The bill, introduced by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, seeks to amend the Muslim Family Laws Ordinance, 1961. The House approved the extension with effect from Feb 11, 2026.
Similarly, Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, on behalf of Senator Farooq Hamid Naek, chairman of the Standing Committee on Law and Justice, moved motions for extensions in respect of two bills.
The first related to the Legal Practitioners and Bar Councils (Second Amendment) Bill, 2025, introduced by Senator Shahadat Awan in the sitting held on Dec 1, 2025. The House granted a 60-day extension with effect from March 1, 2026.
The second concerned the Pakistan Psychological Council Bill, 2025, introduced by Senator Kamran Murtaza in the same sitting. The Senate also approved a 60-day extension from March 1, 2026, for submission of the committee’s report.
During the proceedings, Senator Rana Mahmood ul Hassan, chairman of the Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, presented the committee’s report on the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025.
Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi, chairman of the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges, presented the report on a privilege motion moved by Senator Umer Farooq and others regarding alleged misconduct of the chief secretary, home secretary, inspector general of police Balochistan and commissioner Quetta.
Later, Minister for Law Azam Nazeer Tarar, on behalf of Federal Education and Professional Training Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, introduced the Daanish University Islamabad Bill, 2026, which was referred to the relevant standing committee for consideration.
Subsequently, Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb moved a motion under Rule 263 to dispense with the requirement of sub-rule (2) of Rule 99 in order to take up the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025, as reported by the standing committee.
The motion was adopted, and the Senate passed the Virtual Assets Bill, 2025.