Lack of quorum on Tuesday forced Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Syed Ghulam Mustafa Shah to adjourn the House proceedings until Wednesday at 11:00 am.
Earlier, when the proceedings began, Syed Amin-ul-Haque was asked by the deputy speaker to take up a calling attention notice regarding the non-completion of the K-IV project despite huge expenditures incurred on it.
However, MNA Iqbal Afridi pointed out the lack of quorum, prompting the deputy speaker to order a headcount. As the House was found not to be in order, the deputy speaker suspended proceedings until completion of the quorum process.
When the House reassembled after a short break, another headcount was conducted, but the quorum was still incomplete, leading to the adjournment of the sitting until Wednesday at 11:00 am. Tuesday is designated as Private Members’ Day, during which bills moved by lawmakers are taken up for passage.
Around 23 private members’ bills, along with proposed amendments to the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the National Assembly, 2007, were part of the agenda. Among the key legislative items, lawmakers were expected to consider several amendment bills related to state-owned enterprises, abandoned properties, factory laws, anti-rape laws, Islamabad rent restrictions, payment of wages, provincial motor vehicle laws, limited liability partnerships, criminal procedure, national security, environmental protection, and child rights.
The House agenda also included bills concerning the establishment of the Federal Institute of Management Sciences, the Pakistan Emergency Treatment Coverage Programme, and the protection of breastfeeding and child nutrition in the Islamabad Capital Territory.
Several private members’ bills moved by lawmakers, including Shandana Gulzar Khan, Sharmila Faruqui, Shehla Raza, and Ali Muhammad Khan, were also part of the legislative business.
Resolutions regarding completion of pending housing projects, merger of ad hoc relief allowances into the basic pay of government employees, promotion of renewable energy, reform of early childhood curriculum standards, and introduction of a comprehensive consumer protection framework for digital services and online lending platforms were also included in the agenda. Motions under Rule 259 included discussions on delays in appointments in the Federal Directorate of Education and related institutions, the performance of Pakistan Railways, public hardships caused by rising fuel prices, preparedness against urban heatwaves, and disruption in Sui gas supply across the country.
Another calling attention notice seeking a response from the Energy Ministry regarding the absence of a transformer repair workshop in District Layyah, Punjab, was also included in the agenda.