Senate passes Debt Limitation Bill, 2005
By Uzma Zafar

ISLAMABAD—The Senate on Monday unanimously passed the Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation (Amendment) Bill, 2005.
The bill was moved by Leader of the House, Wasim Sajjad and supported by Professor Khurshid on part of the opposition.
Wasim Sajjad while speaking on the Bill said in the past certain reports were required to be laid before National Assembly only. He said at the time of passage of Fiscal Responsibility and Debt Limitation Act, 2005 it was agreed that an amendment bill will be brought.
After the passage of this amendment, Wasim Sajjad said medium term budgetary statements shall be laid before the Senate as well and requested the House to pass the amended bill unanimously. Professor Khurshid Ahmed of Mutehidda Majlis-e-Amal (MMA) said it was an important Bill which will grant equality to Senate with National Assembly on budgetary bills.
Later the House passed the bill unanimously.
Ishaq Dar of PML-N said Senate should be given representation in Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
Wasim Sajjad said this proposal should be moved in Standing Committee on Law and Justice.
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs, Kamil Ali Agha supported Wasim Sajjad’s viewpoint upon which Chairman Senate Mohammedmian Soomro advised that the proposal should be channelled through Standing Committee on Law and Justice. Later, the House rejected another two Bills moved by Dr. Kausar Firdous. The first Bill was for the Working/Employed Women (The Working Women Protection Bill, 2005 while the second Bill was for giving provision for the stability of women (The Economic Stability of Women Bill, 2005.
Opposing the Bills, Minister for Law and Justice, Wasi Zafar and Kamil Ali Agha said with regard to welfare of working women some clauses have already been incorporated in the Bill on labour laws which is currently with the National Assembly. Later, the chair put the Bills before the House which rejected both the Bills.