Hafeez, Hammad told to be present in NA during budget debate.

ISLAMABAD -- Deputy Speaker Qasim Suri on Wednesday directed Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh and Federal Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar to ensure their presence in the National Assembly during the ongoing general debate on the federal budget.

Interestingly, the absence of the two key members of the government's economic team from the house was pointed out by none other than by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan.

The minister took the floor on a point of order during the budget debate and said whether someone liked it or not, but as a parliamentary affairs minister it was his job to ensure that the parliament played its due role through useful discussion.

'Dr Hafeez Shaikh and Hammad Azhar Sahib should come to the (assembly) hall and take notes,' he said, asking them to take the parliamentary proceedings seriously.

He said that although senior officials of the finance ministry were present in the gallery and taking notes, the two ministers should also be in the house to listen to proposals being given by members in their speeches.

The minister also asked the chair to issue a ruling in this regard.

The deputy speaker issued the directives that both Dr Shaikh and Mr Azhar should be asked to attend the sitting and take notes about the members' proposals. The proceedings continued for nearly three hours after the ruling from the chair, but the two cabinet members did not turn up.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly continued general debate on the federal budget for the third...

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