Annual Report

0 TABLE OF CONTENTS MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN ...................................................................................................... 3 SENATE SESSIONS ................................................................................................................................. 5 LEGISLATION AT A GLANCE ................................................................................................................. 7 LEGISLATIVE ACHIEVEMENTS ............................................................................................................ 7 Senator-Wise Private Members’ Bills introduced in the Senate during the Parliamentary Year 2019-2020 ........................................................................................................................................ 7 Senators-wise Private Members’ Bills passed by the Senate during Parliamentary Year 2019- 2020 .................................................................................................................................................. 9 Private Members’ Bills referred for consideration in Joint Sitting of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) ................................................................................................................................... 10 Governmment Bills Passed by the Senate during PY 2019-20 .................................................... 10 LAYING OF CONSTITUTIONAL / STATUTORY REPORTS ........................................................... 11 Constitutional / Statutory Reports laid during PY 2019-20 ............................................................ 11 Constitutional / Statutory Reports discussed during PY 2019-20 ................................................. 11 PARLIAMENTARY QUESTIONS .......................................................................................................... 12 Starred Questions ................................................................................................................................ 12 Un-Starred Questions .......................................................................................................................... 12 RESOLUTIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 13 MOTIONS UNDER RULE 218 ............................................................................................................... 19 ADJOURNMENT MOTIONS .................................................................................................................. 21 CALLING ATTENTION NOTICES ......................................................................................................... 22 PRIVILEGE MOTIONS ............................................................................................................................ 23 POINTS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE RAISED DURING ZERO HOUR .......................................... 24 A. Points of public importance raised and referred to the concerned Standing Committees for consideration and report: ....................................................................................................... 24 B. Points of Public Importance raised and referred to the Government(s) for report: ............. 29 C. Points of public importance raised and disposed of in the House. ....................................... 32 AN OVERVIEW OF SENATE COMMITTEES’ PERFORMANCE .................................................... 39 1 ISSUES OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE TAKEN BY THE COMMITTEES AND THEIR DISPOSAL ..................................................................................................................................... 40 Role and Performance of Council of Chairmen ............................................................................... 43 AN OVERVIEW OF PARLIAMENTARY BUSINESS REFERRED TO THE SENATE COMMITTEES AND NUMBER OF MEETINGS HELD BY VARIOUS COMMITTEES ..... 44 Number of meetings held by Standing Committees ....................................................................... 44 Number of meetings held by Functional Committees ..................................................................... 45 Number of meetings held by Special Committees .......................................................................... 45 Number of meetings held by Other Committees ............................................................................. 45 COMMITTEE-WISE DETAIL OF BUSINESS ...................................................................................... 46 SUCCESS STORIES OF SENATE COMMITTEES ......................................................................... 121 INTER PARLIAMENTARY RELATIONS (IPR) .................................................................................. 124 AUSTERITY MEASURES ..................................................................................................................... 129 RESEARCH SERVICES ....................................................................................................................... 130 PUBLIC PETITIONS TABLE ................................................................................................................ 131 REACHING OUT TO THE PUBLIC THROUGH MEDIA .................................................................. 135 LEGISLATIVE DRAFTING UNIT (LDU) ............................................................................................. 136 PROJECT MANAGEMENT UNIT (PMU) ........................................................................................... 139 PROTOCOL BRANCH .......................................................................................................................... 142 SENATE LIBRARY ................................................................................................................................ 146 ADMINISTRATION WING .................................................................................................................... 148 HUMAN RESOURCE ............................................................................................................................ 148 2 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIRMAN On completion of the second year of my term as Chairman Senate of Pakistan, I am pleased to note that the Senate continued to progress across all areas of representation, legislation, and oversight. These achievements of the Parliamentary Year 2019 – 2020 are particularly special because the Senate faced and overcame many challenges. On the legislative side, it is a matter of satisfaction that while legislation continued to increase overall, the PY 2019 – 2020 specifically witnessed a significant increase in the introduction and passage of Private Members’ Bills. The Senate passed 45 Resolutions compared to 31 Resolutions in the preceding Parliamentary Year. Similarly, the number of matters discussed through Motions under Rule 218 more than doubled from 11 to 27. In addition, a large number of Points of Public Importance were raised during the Zero Hour. In another leap forward, a total of 401 meetings of Senate Committees were held during PY 2019-20 compared to 196 in the previous year. Committees disposed of legislative business, exercised oversight on the Executive, and intervened for relief to the public at large in various matters. The Committees also scrutinised budgetary allocation and utilisation of the Ministries/Divisions concerned for better fiscal and financial management of taxpayers’ money. At the same time, the Senate of Pakistan continued to assert its principled stance in many international conferences held in the PY 2019 – 2020. The delegations represented the Senate on issues such as gender equality, trade, economics, climate change, human rights, terrorism, health, education and more. Most importantly, the delegations from the Senate of Pakistan left no stone unturned to highlight the brutal violence and atrocities being committed against the brave people of the Indian-held Jammu & Kashmir. These efforts resulted in widespread awareness and international condemnation of the inhuman treatment meted out to Kashmiris under an unending curfew by the Indian occupying forces. Outreach programs and initiatives continued with full zeal and vigour for the creation of awareness among public in general and youth in particular about participatory democracy. Senate of Pakistan laid special emphasis on national austerity drive and considerable savings were made in all heads. On the Secretariat front, administrative reforms were introduced and facilities provided to the Senators and Senate Staff were improved. Some such initiatives included establishing a Parliamentary Coffee Corner in the building, increasing office spaces, renovation, modernisation etc. A rotation policy was also adopted for the very first time to allow officers and staff to experience working in various branches, one such was the 3 rotation of Table Officers in the House during the Senate session, so as to train all officers in the core House business. It is heartening to see such trust and momentum building up, and I take great pride in the confidence invested in my office. On behalf of all Members and the Senate Secretariat, I thank you for taking interest and learning more about the Senate of Pakistan. I hope this report provides an interesting glimpse into the work that is accomplished every day on behalf of people of Pakistan. Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani Chairman Senate 4 SENATE SESSIONS Total Senate Sessions: 10 Joint

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