By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: An important meeting of the Council of Chairpersons was held in the Punjab Assembly under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan.
The meeting focused on amendments to the Rules of Procedure, pending business of standing committees, and the scheduling of committee meetings.
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During the meeting, the Speaker highlighted the significance of parliamentary committees, stating that wherever there is a parliamentary system, committees play a crucial role. He emphasized that the strength of the committee is the strength of the Assembly, adding that across the world, people often perceive the executive as a burden and look towards the Parliament for guidance.
Expressing regret, the Speaker noted that despite existing laws, this was the first-ever meeting of the Council of Chairpersons in the history of the Assembly. He further explained that previously, committees could only deliberate on referred matters, whereas now they have the authority to review all rules comprehensively. He also mentioned that a proposal to allocate offices for committee chairpersons has been sent to the Chief Minister.
The Speaker informed the attendees that the number of standing committees in the Punjab Assembly has increased from 37 to 48, ensuring that each department under the Assembly’s jurisdiction now has a dedicated committee. He asserted that this Assembly cannot be compared to the previous 17 assemblies, as the current standing committees are more active and empowered than ever before.
The meeting was attended by standing committee chairpersons and several members of the Assembly, including Asma Insham, Mansab Ali Dogar, Waqar Ahmad Cheema, Junaid Afzal Sahi, Ahmad Ahsan Iqbal, Samiullah Khan, Haider Ali Gillani, Pir Ashraf Rasool, Owais Work, Shazia Abid, Habib ur Rehman, Hassan Riaz, Philbos, Ahmar Bhatti, Hassan Butter, Amjad Ali Javed, Agha Ali Haider, Adnan Dogar, Mohsin Ayub, Khan Bahadur, and Arif Gul. Additionally, Zulfiqar Ali Shah and several other members participated via video link.
The meeting deliberated on amendments to the Assembly’s rules and procedures, discussed pending matters of the committees, and reviewed the scheduling of standing committee meetings. This session is seen as a significant step toward strengthening the role and autonomy of Punjab Assembly’s standing committees.
