ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Wednesday opposed the Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2020 in the Senate, which seeks to provide 25 free air tickets to the families of the parliamentarians, at a time when Pakistan is faced with severe economic crunch in the backdrop of spread of coronavirus.

Speaking on the floor of the House during Senate session, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said, the country cannot afford any such luxury as allowing 25 free air tickets for the families of parliamentarians. "Keeping in view the present conditions our country is faced with, the federal government is cutting down on expenses. The prime minister has reduced his expenses. This is the need of the hour. It would not be appropriate for parliamentarians to make any such demand like free business class tickets for their family members. Parliamentarians are already entitled to 25 business class free air tickets in connection with their responsibilities vis-a'-vis business of the state. Extending this facility to their family members is not appropriate, at this time or any other time, in my opinion," he said adding that the country's economy was already overburdened.

Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani responded to the minister and said, "By the way this is a government bill laid by the government in National Assembly. It came to us only for giving recommendations."

Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2020 is a money bill a copy of which was laid in Senate on June 5.

Earlier, Senator Ateeq Shaikh from treasury benches, on behalf of Farooq Naek, Chairman Senate Standing Committee on Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs, moved that the recommendations of the committee on amending Parliament (Salaries & Allowances) Act, 1974 (Members of Parliament Salaries and Allowances (Amendment) Bill, 2020) be considered and adopted. The committee recommended provision of free air tickets for family members of parliamentarians.

Constitutionally, the Upper House of the Parliament can hold extensive debate on a money bill and devise recommendations accordingly but it has practically no role in budgetary legislation involving a money bill since it is completely up to the NA to either completely or partially accept those recommendations or hand them an outright rejection.

Moreover, a money bill does not land in Senate or seek the Upper House's nod for passage in order to become a law. It only needs to be passed by the NA with simple majority and then requires a ceremonial ascent from the President of Pakistan in order to become a law.

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."

Meanwhile, different senators including Javed Abbasi from Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Kulsoom Parveen from PML-N, Ghafoor Haideri from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) and others took part in debate on Finance Bill 2020.

Senate would meet again on Friday.