Comparative Analysis of Performance of four Provincial Assemblies from 2018 to 2023
Karobar
On September 21; A brief comparative analysis of performance of four Provincial Assemblies for the period (2018-2023) has been compiled by PILDAT. While the Provincial Assemblies of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) were dissolved prematurely on January 14 and January 18, 2023 respectively, the Sindh Assembly too was dissolved just before conclusion of its term on August 11, 2023 leaving only the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan to complete its five-years term until August 12, 2023.
In terms of status of transparency and access to information by four Provincial Assemblies, KP Assembly outranked all other Provincial Assemblies with a score of 8.5 out of 11. This is the only assembly which is providing live telecast of KP Assembly proceedings. Punjab Assembly was the first to have introduced live webcast of assembly proceedings in 2002 but it chose to suspend this in 2021 and has never revived the practice since. However, out of four Provincial Assemblies, only the Punjab Assembly has provided complete attendance records of MPAs on its website. The Punjab Assembly has ranked second with a score of 7 out of 11 when compared with other assemblies. Balochistan Assembly ranked third by securing 6.5 score out of 11 while the Sindh Assembly is providing the least information on its website and ranked at last number with 5.5 score.
Sindh Assembly outranked other three Provincial Assemblies in terms of sittings held during five-years of its term as it convened 326 sittings with an average of 65 sittings per year. Punjab Assembly met for 274 days with an average of 62 sittings per year during its 4 years and 5 months tenure. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembky held 248 sittings with an average of 56 sittings per year. Lowest number of sittings, 241, with an average of 48 sittings per year, were convened by the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan in five-years.
Sindh Assembly was convened for most working hours, i.e., 921 hours with an average of 184 hours and 20 minutes per year during five years of its term. Balochistan Assembly was convened for 581 hours and 18 minutes with an average of 116 hours per year. The KP Assembly met for 574 hours and 27 minutes with an average of 130 hours per year. Punjab Assembly was convened for 530 hours and 47 minutes with an average of 120 hours and 12 minutes per year..
Balochistan Assembly outperformed in terms of attendance of Chief Ministers who have attended highest percentage (31%) of sittings of the Balochistan Assembly during five years term. This is a combined attendance of Jam Kamal Khan, MPA, BAP who attended 33% sittings and Mir Abdul Quddus Bezinjo, MPA, BAP who attended only 18% sittings. Jam Kamal Khan had resigned as CM on October 24, 2021 and Mir Abdul Quddus Bezinjo replaced him as CM on October 29, 2021.
Chief Minister of Sindh, Syed Murad Ali Shah, MPA, PPPP attended 26% sittings of the Sindh Assembly. Chief Ministers of Punjab attended only 14% sittings. This is also a combined attendance of three Chief Ministers. Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar, MPA, PTI resigned as CM on March 28, 2022 and attended only 10% sittings during his tenure of 3 years and 7 months. Mr. Muhammad Hamza Shahbaz Sharif, MPA PML-N was elected as CM on April 16, 2022 and attended 57% sittings during his tenure of three and a half month as CM. He was then replaced by Mr. Parvez Elahi, MPA, PML on July 26, 2022 who attended 23% sittings during his tenure of 5 and a half month. The lowest attendance of any of the four Chief Ministers was by Chief Minister KP, Mr. Mahmood Khan, MPA, PTI who attended only 8% sittings during his tenure of 4 years and 5 months.
Balochistan Assembly also ranked at top as the Leader of the Opposition in the Provincial Assembly of Balochistan, Malik Sikandar Khan, MPA, MMAP who attended 63% sittings during five parliamentary years. He was followed by Leaders of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly who attended 56% sittings. It is a combine attendance of both Mr. Haleem Adil Sheikh, MPA, PTI and Ms. Rana Ansar, MPA, MQMP who replaced Mr. Sheikh on July 26, 2023. Mr. Akram Khan Durrani, MPA, MMAP, Leader of the Opposition in KP Assembly attended 38% sittings. The lowest attendance was witnessed by Leaders of the Opposition in Punjab Assembly who attended only 12% sittings which is a combined attendance of Mr. Muhammad Hamza Shahbaz Sharif and Mr. Muhammad Sibtain Khan, MPA, PTI.
Even though KP Assembly was dissolved seven months earlier than its actual term, during its 4 years and 5 months tenure, it passed 188 bills with an average of 43 bills passed per year which is the highest number of average bills passed per year. This is followed by Punjab Assembly which has passed 180 bills with an average of 41 bills per year. Sindh Assembly has passed 149 bills with an average of 30 bills per year and Balochistan Assembly could pass only 96 bills with an average of 19 bills per year during their 5-year terms, which is the lowest number of bills passed among the four assemblies.
