ISLAMABAD: The Senate’s legislative output during the year 2019-20 has improved compared to the preceding year, however low attendance continues to be a problem.

According to an annual report released by the Senate on the completion the parliamentary year, which ended on March 11, the upper house passed 31 legislative pieces including 19 government and 12 member bills. In comparison, 26 bills were passed last year including 20 government and six private member bills.

Government sponsored bills slightly decreased while the number of private member bills doubled. Out of 12 private member bills passed by the house, nine had been introduced in 2018-19.

Although figures show an increase in legislative output as compared to the preceding year, they are lower as compared to 2017 when 50 bills had been passed of which 33 were government and 17 were private member bills.

On average, 71 members (69pc) from the house of 104 attended Senate sittings during the year. 100 members were seen only once on Aug 1, 2019 when Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani survived a no-trust motion against him in the opposition dominated house. The lowest attendance was recorded on Nov 15, 2019, with only 55 members present. The average attendance remained 66 and 64 in the years 2018-19 and 2017-18, respectively.

Overall, 45 resolutions compared to 31 in the preceding parliamentary year were passed. In addition, 288 resolutions had been received out of which 228 had been admitted. As many as 179 admitted motions could not be taken up.

At the same time, 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.

As many as 386 meetings of Senate committees were held during the year 2019-20 compared to 196 in the previous year disposing of legislative business, exercising oversight on the executive and intervening for relief to the public at large in various matters.

Internationally, the Senate played a robust role by asserting its principled stance in many international conferences held during 2019-2020. Delegations represented the Senate on issues such as gender equality, trade, economics, climate change, human rights, terrorism, health, education, the Kashmir issue and so on. These efforts resulted in awareness and international condemnation of the unending curfew in India held-Kashmir.

Outreach programmes and initiatives continued with zeal for awareness among public in general and youth in particular about participatory democracy. The Senate 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 senators and Senate staff also improved, for instance the establishment of the Parliamentary Coffee Corner, increased office space, renovations and so on.

A rotation policy was adopted for the first time to allow officers and staff to experience working in various branches, such as the rotation of table officers in the house during the Senate session to train officers in core house business.

Published in Dawn, March 13th, 2020