Both houses of the Parliament will meet here on Monday to deliberate on crucial legislative and public interest matters.
111-Point Parliamentary Agenda Issued; BAC to decide session duration
By Khuram Shahzad
ISLAMABAD, Aug 16 (APP): Both houses of the Parliament will meet here on Monday to deliberate on crucial legislative and public interest matters.
A comprehensive 111-point agenda has been issued for the concurrent sessions of the National Assembly and the Senate.
Prior to these important sessions, a crucial meeting of the National Assembly’s Business Advisory Committee has also been summoned to discuss the business of the lower house, the duration of the session, and other key matters.
Business Advisory Committee Meeting
Ahead of the regular National Assembly session, the Business Advisory Committee will meet at 4:00 p.m. in the Speaker’s Lounge, chaired by the Speaker. The committee will determine the duration of the current National Assembly session, finalize the business to be conducted in the House, and consider other relevant matters with the permission of the Chair. Key government and opposition figures have been invited to attend the meeting.
A 42-point agenda has been issued for the National Assembly session, scheduled to commence at 5:00 p.m. According to the agenda, lawmakers will present calling attention notices regarding the growing water scarcity in Islamabad, the need for water purification plants, and the inordinate delay in the allotment of land for the construction of the National Museum at Shakarparian.
The House will introduce several new amendment bills, including the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits, Natural Gas Development Surcharge, and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess bills.
Furthermore, standing committees on Commerce, Defense, Privatization, and Maritime Affairs will present their reports on various bills, including the Insurance Bill and the Copyright (Amendment) Bill. Bills seeking amendments to the Travel Agencies Act, Pakistan Tourist Guides Act, and Motion Pictures Ordinance, which have already been passed by the Senate, will also be laid before the House for final approval.
The Upper House (Senate) session will convene at 4:00 p.m., for which a lengthy 69-point agenda has been issued.
During the Senate proceedings, reports from standing committees on various bills, including those related to Lok Virsa, National Textile University, the Civil Servants Act, and Area Study Centres, will be presented.
Private members’ bills aiming to control the use of disposable syringes in Islamabad and amend criminal laws are also part of the agenda. Additionally, the House will hold detailed discussions on matters of public importance, including alleged irregularities in the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), the rising number of maternal deaths due to postpartum hemorrhage, the escalating trade deficit, the performance of Pakistan Railways, and the NDMA’s preparedness to tackle monsoon floods.
The agenda also features resolutions for approval, including a proposal to train Imams and Khateebs to promote human rights, tolerance, and social justice, as well as a resolution paying tribute to the bravery of Shaheed Group Captain Asim Tariq.
