LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday passed a comprehensive set of amendments to its Rules of Procedure with a view to modernise the legislative framework, enhance transparency and empower oversight mechanisms of the house.

Through the amendments, the standing committees have been empowered to scrutinise the government policies, expenditures, and public petitions, besides having a greater role in ensuring the implementation of the assembly decisions and fiscal oversight.

All committees will now have mandatory women representation, ensuring gender inclusivity in legislative functions.

The amendments allow for the delegation of certain powers of the speaker, ensuring continuity in parliamentary functions and empowerment of committee chairmen.

The creation of a Committee on Delegated Legislation and the expanded role of the Law Reforms Committee will ensure effective implementation of laws, as well post-legislative scrutiny, including the 18th Amendment and the devolution of power and authority.

The new rules mandate live streaming of the assembly proceedings and the public posting of all committee reports on the Punjab Assembly website, allowing greater public access and engagement with legislative processes.

“These reforms ensure that the assembly operates efficiently, transparently, and in line with the highest standards of governance. They empower the assembly to serve the people of Punjab with accountability and integrity,” Punjab Assembly Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan said.

He emphasised the progressive nature of these reforms, saying they align with the best practices both nationally and regionally, ensuring consistency and unity of purpose across legislative bodies in Pakistan. “These changes will help streamline our processes and make the assembly more transparent and accountable to the public,” the speaker added.

ESTABLISHMENT OF CAUCUSES: Through two separate motions the house also approved establishment of the Local Government Caucus and Punjab Border Areas Development Caucus (PBADC).

All those MPAs who had ever remained part of any local government would be members of the LG Caucus, which will monitor the implementation of policies affecting local government, provide a platform for cross-party collaboration, and organise capacity-building initiatives for relevant lawmakers.

Similarly, the PBADC will monitor the implementation of development projects, besides organising capacity-building initiatives for the lawmakers concerned with border region development.

All the assembly members, who represent border constituencies or have a special interest in the development of border regions will be members of the PBAD Caucus.

The speaker will nominate select groups from each caucus to frame rules of their respective body.

Meanwhile, the speaker has formed a parliamentary committee to probe the grant of precious state land on lease to elite Lahore Gymkhana Club and Chenab Club in Faisalabad against a nominal rate of Rs5,000 per year. The committee will submit its report within two weeks.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2024