Committees

Committees

Recognized as political nerve ends, the gatherers of information, the sifters of alternatives, the refiners of legislative detail, and the eyes and ears of the Parliament, much of the business of the House is handled by the Committees. The Senate of Pakistan has an efficient Committee System which has established traditions of sovereignty of the Parliament over the years and has dealt with a wide range of issues of national importance and public interest.

Senate Committees

  • Standing Committees
  • Functional Committees
  • Domestic Committees
  • Other Committees
  • Special Committees
  • Select Committees on Bills

 

Under the Senate rules, there shall be a Standing Committee that deals with the business of the Government relating to the Ministry with which it is concerned or any other matter referred to it by the Senate or the Chairman Senate. A Committee is authorized to examine suo moto the budgetary allocation, administration, legislation, public petitions and the policies of the Ministry concerned and its attached Divisions.

Besides Standing Committees, there are the functional Committees, (i) Committee on Government Assurances (ii) Committee on Problems of Less Developed Areas (iii) Committee on Devolution and (iv) Committee on Human Rights.

In addition to the above Committees, there are other Committees, namely the Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges and the Committee on Delegated Legislation. While, House Committee and Library Committee are the domestic committees of the Senate of Pakistan concerning with the issues, requirements and provision of a wide range of facilities & modern solutions to the Senators from facilitation of accommodations to ensuring access of members to a vast range of books and international journals.

Special Committee and Select Committee on Bills are also constituted through a motion by the House whenever the need for the formation of such committees arises on special issues, subjects or bills and the provisions relating to the Standing Committees shall apply mutatis mutandis to a Select Committee and a Special Committee.