Senate defers seven bills on minister’s request

ISLAMABAD: Senate on Monday deferred seven bills on the request of the relevant minister who was not present during the consideration.

The deferred bills, related to the Ministry of Interior, included the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Guardians and Wards (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Provincial Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Prevention of Electronic Crimes (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Prevention and Control of Human Trafficking (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2023; and the Control of Narcotic Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The Senate chairman acceded to the minister’s request for deferring the bills, stating that the relevant minister is usually present, and this deferment is due to his absence. The movers and the House agreed to the deferment.

Additionally, three bills on the ‘Orders of the Day’ were referred to the relevant committees after their introduction in the House.

These bills were the Factories (Amendment) Bill, 2023; the National Occupational Health and Safety Bill, 2023; and the Federal Institute of Management Sciences Bill, 2023.

An introduced bill, the Federal Institute of Management Sciences Bill, 2023, faced opposition from Caretaker Federal Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Information Murtaza Solangi.

He expressed that the institute falls under Higher Education Commission, and necessary requirements, including no objection certificate and feasibility, have not been fulfilled, leading to their opposition.

However, the Senate chair referred it to the committee as the mover acknowledged that it might face opposition in the relevant committee if necessary requirements are not met.