ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Ishaq Dar presented a copy of the Finance Bill 2016, containing the annual budget statement during the second sitting of the 249th session on Friday, says the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN).
Starting 32 minutes behind the schedule, the sitting witnessed low attendance of lawmakers as 32 members (31%) were present at the start and 58 legislators (56%) at the end of the sitting.
The Senate chairman asked the senators to submit their budget recommendations within Senate Secretariat till June 6, 2016. The Leader of the House did not attend the sitting while the Leader of the Opposition was present for 37 minutes.
Parliamentary leaders of PPPP, MQM, BNP-M, PkMAP, NP, PML-N, ANP, PTI, PML and JI attended the sitting. 22 members (21% of the total membership – 104) were present at the outset and 55 members (53%) at the end of the sitting.
The finance minister also sought senate recommendations, if any, to be forwarded to the National Assembly on the Finance Bill 2016 containing the Annual Budget Statement Order and Institutionalisation Fourteen Points of Public Importance consumed 39 minutes of the proceeding.
