State Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar has tabled the Finance Bill 2009 in Senate after presenting federal budget 2009-10 in National Assembly on Saturday. Speaking at a point of order, leader of opposition in Senate Wasim Sajjad said that the original text of the finance bill should be provided to the house.
"Original copies of the bill must be provided to members as the Customs Act 1969 envisages a large number of changes in the foreign trade rules for which study of the bill is essential", he said. The proposed amendments in Customs Act, 1969 contains many duty-related provisions, and the members want to go through the document prior forwarding relevant recommendations to the government, he added.
Senator Professor Khurshid Ahmed said Urdu version of the finance bill should also be made available to the senators, as it will help them to easily grasp the different provision of the bill to give their view point in a better way. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Babar Awan assured the house that original copy and Urdu version of the bill will be provided to the senators in the next session. Later Chairman Senate Farooq H Naik adjourned the house to meet again on Tuesday at 10:30am.