Meeting on virtual session of NA summoned on April 21

ISLAMABAD: The first meeting of the committee on virtual session of the National Assembly (NA) will be held on April 21 (Tuesday) to suggest amendments in the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the National Assembly 2007, if any for holding virtual session of the NA and also with regard of meetings of standing committees of it during prevalence of the corona virus pandemic.

Currently, there were no rules of procedure and conduct of business with regard to hold the virtual session of the NA and even for its standing committees.

NA Speaker early this week had appointed a 9-member committee on virtual session of the NA during the prevalence of coronavirus pandemic in the country.

The committee headed by Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, while the Treasury will be represented by Dr Fehmida Mirza, Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination, Dr Zaheerudin Babar, Advisor to PM on Parliamentary Affairs, Ali Muhammad Khan, Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, MNA Syed Amin Ul Haq, and Malik Aamir Dogar, Chief Whip (PTI), Whereas the opposition will be represented by MNAs Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Ms. Shahida Akthar Ali and Syed Naveed Qamar.

As per Terms of References of the Committee, it had been mandated to suggest amendments in the rules of procedure and conduct of business in the National Assembly 2007, if any for holding virtual session of the NA during prevalence of the coronavirus pandemic.

The committee had also been asked to make recommendation for detailed working to hold NA session during the period of pandemic. The committee had also been asked to make any other recommendations it may deem necessary. The committee had been asked to submit its report at the earliest.