The next National Assembly session is likely to be summoned next Thursday (May 22), or Friday (May 23), parliamentary sources told Business Recorder on Monday. The source was unable to answer the exact date on which the annual budget would be presented in the National Assembly, although the usual buzz has it that it would be done on June 7.
But they stated that the budget session would be of usual two-week duration, which was contrary to official understanding that the members would be given more time, instead of rushing through the general debate and cut motions. Last year, 80 hours were allowed for members' participation in the debate, with the opposition (now sitting in treasury benches) doing most of the talking.
However, it has not been possible to implement significant recommendations of the last year's seminar on half yearly review of the budget, such as scrutiny by standing committees of allocation and targets achievement made by each government departments.
Obviously, it could not be done because the National Assembly met on March 17 for members' oath taking. Since then, standing committees have been constituted, but chairmen of the standing committees, expected to be elected within 30 days, are not in their places yet. However, the source did state that the Assembly would adopt the expected resolution on the restoration of deposed judges before the budget.