President to address joint sitting of parliament in April

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari will address the joint sitting of two houses of parliament in third week of April. He will highlight the plans and priorities of the government for the year through his speech that would be provided to him by the government.

The presidential address is mandatory since Article 56 clause 3 of the Constitution mandates the address by the president before the commencement of every parliamentary year. The two houses later discuss the address separately.

Sources said the second session of National Assembly on Monday (April 1) wouldn’t last for more than one day. It would be adjourned sine die after transacting brief business and without any legislation. The third session of the National Assembly will be held after the presidential address. The upper house of parliament will be then complete and legislation would be undertaken at fast pace.

The sources said that committees of the two houses would also be formed in the month of April.

The National Assembly will have 40 standing committees, which will deal with the whole process of legislation.