'Budget session of National Assembly should be extended for 90 days'

Budget session of National Assembly should be extended for 90 days, which is necessary for meaningful input. This was according to the suggestions given in the report on the Score Card of 13th National Assembly of Pakistan. The discussion was organised on this report on Friday by Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development And Transparency (PILDAT).
The discussion was chaired by former speaker National Assembly Syed Fakhar Imam, while Professor Muhammad Waseem shared his views on the occasion. The report shows reservations in the delay of making of independent Accountability Commission, which was promised by Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani in his very first speech in the National Assembly and it was also envisaged in the charter of democracy signed by Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N).
There is a need to systematically strengthen the role of parliamentary committees and the allocation of funds by the government for them to carry on their work. The report termed the unanimous passage of 18th Constitutional Amendment as one of the major accomplishments of democracy during the past 30 months.
The report also termed the continued presence of PM in the national assembly as a positive thing. However, PM's questions period has not yet been initiated formally, which if started will further reinforce good parliamentary practices.
The report said that with the conclusion of the second parliamentary year on ending on March 16, 2010 the 13th National Assembly of Pakistan has seen a marked improvement in its performance compared to the first year most notably in the number of bills passed hours and the hours it actually worked.