Overview of 40^th Session of The National Assembly

16 bills were passed by the National Assembly in a single sitting held on January 13 including the highly contentious State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which the opposition termed as a surrender to IMF with far greater implications for Pakistan than the surrender in Dhaka on December 16, 1971. The treasury benches also managed to pass the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2022 amidst protest from the opposition which protested that the bill would further fuel already high inflation in Pakistan. The opposition MNAs have continued to demand that the Speaker should re-do voting tally though the Speaker has continued to refuse to hold vote count by standing in seats. Bills passed included the following:

• The National Metrology Institute of Pakistan Bill, 2021
• The Protection of Parents Bill, 2021
• The Post Office National Savings Certificates (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Government Savings Bank (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace (Amendment) Bill, 2022)
• The National Information Technology Board Bill, 2022
• The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2021
• The Pak University of Engineering and Emerging Technology University Bill, 2022
• The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section 2,8,9 and 43B)
• The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 (Section 8)
• The Pakistan Nursing Council (Amendment) Bill, 2022
• The Allied Health Professionals Council Bill, 2022
• The Islamabad healthcare Facilities Management Authority Bill, 2022
• The Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2022
• The Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2022
• The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill, 2022

Four (4) ordinances were extended further for a period of 120 days during the session including two (2) extended on Thursday, January 13 and two (2) extended on Friday, January 21. These included:

• The National Accountability (Second Amendment) Ordinance, 2021 (No. XXIII of 2021)
• The National Accountability (Third Amendment) Ordinance, 2021, (No. XXVI of 2021)
• The National Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oath and Fees) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021
• The National Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen Authority Ordinance, 2021, (No. XXV of 2021)

6 bills each from Government and Private Members were introduced. Four (4) Ordinances laid in the House during the session, three (3) of which were laid on Tuesday, January 11 while 1 ordinance was laid on Thursday, January 13. These included:

• The Diplomatic and Consular Officers (Oath and Fees) (Amendment) Ordinance, 2021
• The National Rahmatul-Lil-Aalameen Authority Ordinance, 2021
• The Pakistan Nursing Council (Emergency Management) Ordinance, 2021
• The Islamabad Capital Territory Local Government Ordinance 2021, (Ordinance No. XXVIII of 2021)