'A great example of parliamentary unity'

The Senate on Monday unanimously adopted the recommendations on the Finance Bill 2019 made by the Upper House of the Parliament to the National Assembly for the latter's review before the federal budget is taken up for passage. Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance Revenue and Economic Affairs Farooq Naek presented the committee's report on Senate's recommendations to the NA on Finance Bill 2019 during the Senate session presided over by the Upper House's Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani. Earlier on June 11, Minister of State for Revenue Hammad Azhar had presented the federal budget or Finance Bill 2019 in the National Assembly, a copy of which was also presented in the Senate to make recommendations to the NA on the Finance Bill 2019.
"Like always, the government would consider the recommendations of the Senate with utmost sincerity and objectivity," Hammad Azhar said while speaking at the Senate session on Monday after the related recommendations were adopted by the Senate.
He appreciated the role of the Senate's finance panel under the leadership of Farooq Naek to draft, what he termed, some significant proposals on the Finance Bill 2019. "I had the chance to attend a few sessions of the committee and I witnessed firsthand the hard work this panel has done to devise the recommendations," he said.
Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Swati also extended his gratitude to the Senate's finance panel. He urged the government to consider the recommendations objectively and thoroughly. "On behalf of the federal government, let me assure that each and every recommendation would be given a detailed review with a sincerity of heart," the minister said.
Leader of the House in Senate Shibli Faraz congratulated the entire House as well as the Senate finance panel for devising recommendations to the NA on the Finance Bill 2019. "Regardless of party affiliations and political divide, the members of this panel have come together to draft a detailed set of proposals for the consideration of NA. This is a great example of parliamentary unity which is the ultimate strength of any legislative House - the unity of its members. Not only the committee members but also the related staff of Senate Secretariat also worked untiringly to assist the committee in the preparation of its recommendations on the Finance Bill 2019. I am hopeful the NA would give due consideration to the recommendations of this House on the Finance Bill 2019," he said.
Constitutionally, the Upper House of the Parliament can hold extensive debate on the finance bill and devise recommendations accordingly but the Senate has no role in budgetary legislation on the finance bill or any money bill. In addition, it is completely up to the finance minister to either completely or partially accept the Senate's recommendations on finance bill or hand them an outright rejection.
The Article 73 which deals with parliamentary business with respect to money bills reads, "(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in Article 70, a Money Bill shall originate in the National Assembly: Provided that simultaneously when a Money Bill, including the Finance Bill containing the Annual Budget Statement, is presented in the National Assembly, a copy thereof shall be transmitted to the Senate which may, within fourteen days, make recommendations thereon to the National Assembly.
"(1A) The National Assembly shall, consider the recommendations of the Senate and after the bill has been passed by the Assembly with or without incorporating the recommendations of the Senate, it shall be presented to the President for assent."
After the Senate's finance committee has prepared its recommendations that have been adopted by the Upper House and subsequently forwarded to the Lower House of the Parliament for review, the Senate's parliamentary role in Finance Bill 2019 has practically come to an end. Later, the Senate session was prorogued.