Mandviwalla elected chairman of Senate panel on finance

ISLAMABAD: Amid strong reservations of the PTI-led Opposition in the Senate, the process of the elections of Chairmen of standing committees started in the Senate as on Monday PPP’s Senator Salim Mandviwalla has been elected as a Chairman of Senate Committee on Finance and Revenue.

While another PPP’s Senator Ms Quratulain Marri has been elected as a Chairperson of Senate Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives.

The nomination of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla was proposed by Senator Sherry Rehman and seconded by Senator Manzoor Ahmed Kakar.

The PTI senators including Leader of Opposition in the Senate Syed Shibli Faraz and Mohsin Aziz walked out expressing reservations on the matter.

Sherry Rehman, while taking the strong exception of the PTI’s attitude, said she asks the opposition to reconsider its decision to protest with its committee. “There is no law or rule as to which committee should be held by whom and the Opposition should not give dictation,” she said.

Sherry Rehman said the opposition believes that treasury bench senator cannot be held accountable but in the past the senator from treasury benches has also been the chairman of the Finance Committee.

Saleem Mandviwalla expressed his gratitude for the committee members’ support. He pledged to address the nation’s economic challenges with diligence and emphasized his commitment to fostering collaboration and transparency within the committee.

Mandviwalla vowed to ensure that the committee’s work results in effective and beneficial fiscal policies for the country.

While in the separate meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives was held on Tuesday at Parliament and elected Senator Quratulain Marri its chairperson.

During the meeting, Senator Shahadat Awan proposed Senator Quratulain Marri as chairperson of the committee, and this nomination was seconded by Senator Jam Saifullah Khan.

In attendance were Senator Shahadat Awan, Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, Senator Khalil Tahir, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Senator Jam Saifullah Khan along with Secretary Senate Syed Hasnain Haider.