Senate passes bills on delimitation of constituencies, special economic zones

Outgoing senators present reports before the house for respective standing committees.

ISLAMABAD: The Senate unanimously passed two bills in Thursday’s session, pertaining to delimitation of constituencies and special economic zones.

The Delimitation of Constituencies (Amendment) Bill 2011 was moved by Law Minister Maula Bukhsh Chandio, and provides for further amendments to the Delimitation of Constituencies Act of 1974, according to which the constituencies for elections to the National and provincial assemblies are to be delimited after every census. The 2011 bill proposes amendments to Sections 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9 of the 1974 act. The amendment bill was passed by the National Assembly in January.

The Special Economic Zones Bill 2012 was moved by Leader of the House Syed Nayyar Hussain Bokhari and provides for setting up and operating special economic zones throughout the country.

Presentation of reports

Senator Tahir Hussain Mashhadi, on behalf of the chairperson of the Senate Standing Committee on Interior Muhammad Talha Mahmood, presented a report of the committee before the house for the period from April 16, 2011, to January 11, 2012.

Outgoing Senator Nilofar Bakhtiar presented a report of the Senate Standing Committee on Culture and Tourism for 2010-11.

Kalsoom Parveen presented the report of Senate Standing Committee on Health from March to June 2011.