Copy of Finance Bill tabled in Senate

Minister says senators’ recommendations will be included in budget

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar on Friday presented a copy of the Finance Bill 2020-21 in the Senate, seeking recommendations from the members of the upper house of parliament to be incorporated in the next fiscal year’s budget.

The session, with Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani in the chair, suspended regular proceedings to allow the presentation of the bill, containing the annual budget statement. On the occasion, Azhar assured the members that their recommendations were important and would be included in the budget.

The chairman directed the members to submit their recommendations on the finance bill to the finance committee within 7 days, while the committee would submit its report to the house within 10 days. The recommendations would then be sent to the National Assembly.

Earlier, a report on the implementation of the 7th NFC Award was also tabled in the House. Senator Mian Raza Rabbani termed the appointment of a government adviser as an NFC member a violation of the law. He said that according to the law, an adviser could not be a member of the NFC.

During the session, the opposition walked out of the house in protest against the killing of a woman and injuring a girl in Turbat. However, PPP Senator Sassui Palijo got into an altercation with opposition Senator Mir Kabir Shahi over the walkout.

“We want to speak about Sindh's viewpoint on the NFC and you are taking the opposition on a walkout. You should have staged the walkout on another day,” she said. Usman Kakar supported the position of Palijo.

Virus pandemic

Responding to points raised by senators, Leader of the House Dr Shahzad Waseem urged the opposition not to politicise coronavirus pandemic. He said the government had adopted a comprehensive strategy since day one to handle the pandemic.

“The government has institutionalised the decision-making process after the pandemic emerged and included all provinces in the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to control Covid-19,” he told the house. Later the Senate session was adjourned till Monday.