Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT) has praised the Senate for 'Setting High Standards for Parliamentary Transparency and Openness'. PILDAT Issued Analyses of Performance upon completion of Parliamentary Year of Senate. Salient Features of PILDAT's Analysis are:
1. Highlight of Senate Performance has been attendance of Senators in the sessions, which was higher as compared to any other legislature of Pakistan with an average of 60% Senators being present per sitting.
2. The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Nawaz Sharif, attended only 1 of 103 sittings in the entire year.
3. The Presence of Ministers in Senate left much to be desired as they were hardly present in the House and have even been barred from entering the House by the Chairman.
4. The PM violated Rule 61(2A) that had been amended by Senators in 2014 to make it mandatory for him to attend Prime Minister's Zero Hour (last hour of sitting) at least once a week during a session.
5. Leader of the House and Leader of the Opposition each had excellent attendance records of 76% and 68% respectively.
6. The Senate Standing Committee on Finance was most proactive and met 38 times over the year.
7. Senate Committee on Ports and Shipping was least proactive with only 2 meetings in the year.
8. PILDAT applauds the new revamped Senate website, which includes live web cast and attendance of Individual Senators
9. PILDAT commends the Senate's initiative towards reducing the gap between Parliament and the people by creating a 'Public Petitions Portal'.
10. PILDAT strongly believes that a Conflict of Interest provision be introduced. PILDAT recommends that MPs declare all financial interests that may potentially create a Conflict of Interest between their duties as legislators and their personal interests.
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