The 32-day summer session of the Senate is scheduled to start from May 19, 2006, to discuss several issues, including the budget for fiscal year 2006-07 that is likely to be presented in the National Assembly in the first week of June, sources said.
The session the Upper House of the Parliament will be the longest following election of 50 percent senators in March this year. Sources in Senate Secretariat told Business Recorder on Monday that the government would take up several bills, which the National Assembly has already passed.
However, the most important task the Senate would be undertaking in the session would be the discussion on next year's budget, they added.
"The session will start from May 19 and will continue till the last decade of June. In the meanwhile, the budget is also expected to be presented in the National Assembly, and the house will be discussing the same also," they said.
Opposition sources said they would raise a host of issues, including the deteriorating law and order situation in the country, with particular reference to the recent Karachi blast on Eid-e-Milad-un-Nabi day in which, among others, top members of a politico-religious group were killed.
The opposition would also bring in the house the issue of skyrocketing prices of essential items, including sugar, which is being sold at Rs 42 per kg.
Sources said that all political parties have given Senate Chairman Muhammadmian Soomro the authority to nominate members for around three dozens committees.
Under constitutional provision, the committees stand dissolved on retirement of half of the Senate members after three years, and are reconstituted following election of new senators.