National Assembly. PHOTO: RADIO PAKISTAN
ISLAMABAD:
In the second parliamentary year of the 16th National Assembly, which ended on Tuesday, lawmakers passed 46 bills into law – 40 government bills and six private members’ bills. The House also adopted 27 resolutions during the period.
A total of 159 bills were tabled during the year. Of these, 59 government proposals were presented in the National Assembly, while 14 were received from the Senate.
NA held 11 meetings and three joint meetings during the year and completed 130 working days with a total duration of 237 hours and 36 minutes. During its supervisory function, the members asked 7,625 questions, of which 1,710 were answered on the floor.
The members submitted 329 inquiries, 49 were taken up for discussion. Fifteen postponement decisions were made; 13 were rejected.
Of 33 privilege motions, six were referred to standing committees, 18 are still pending, six were rejected and two were withdrawn. Pursuant to Rule 259 of the Rules of Procedure, 263 proposals were received, four were included in the agenda and three were considered.
During the budget meeting for FY2025-26, the annual budget was discussed in detail.
For the first time in parliamentary history, a joint committee consisting of members of the Finance Committees of both Houses was formed to conduct a detailed review of the Finance Bill. The committee presented its recommendations after careful consideration.
Key legislation during the year included the 27th Constitutional Amendment and amendments to the Pakistan Army Act 1958, among other important laws.
Speaker Ayaz Sadiq presided over the proceedings and facilitated dialogue between the government and the opposition on issues of national importance.
Work was done to strengthen question time to ensure ministerial accountability, including summoning relevant secretaries where no answers were given.
Parliamentary forums such as the Women Parliamentary Caucus, the Parliamentary Caucus on Child Rights, the Young Parliamentarians Forum and the Parliamentary Task Force on Sustainable Development Goals were activated to promote inclusive governance.
These forums organized policy dialogues, legislative workshops, public hearings and international engagements with provincial meetings established to broaden the reach.
The speaker also promoted parliamentary diplomacy, attended a conference in Türkiye in solidarity with Palestine and presented Pakistan’s position.
He paid official visits to Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan and attended the Sixth World Conference of Speakers of Parliament in Geneva.
