ISLAMABAD, Jan 23: In a show of rare consensus, the treasury and opposition benches in the Senate on Tuesday agreed on an innovation in the country’s parliamentary traditions to hold a special pre-budget session, possibly in late February, and also decided to debate the affairs of the Pakistan International Airlines on Thursday.

On a suggestion from veteran parliamentarian Chaudhry Mohammad Anwar Bhinder of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League (PML), senators from both sides of the upper house called for a brief pre-budget session where they could learn about the process of budget-making and make suggestions before the government finalised the budget.

No such sessions have been held either by the National Assembly or Senate in the country's parliamentary history so far to discuss the national budget before its presentation, which usually allows a little over two weeks for a debate before the proposals are passed without much changes.

While in parliament, the budget remains mainly the baby of the National Assembly, which can make changes, while the Senate, allowed to debate the document two years ago through a constitutional amendment, can only make recommendations