Slow going for gov’t legislative agenda

By this time, during the 9th Parliament, the government, apart from Appropriation Bills, had tabled at least six pieces of legislation and passed at least three. After the 2006 elections, Parliament was convened on September 28 and a month later, the Sunset Legislation for Cricket World Cup was passed.

The VAT Order of 2006 as well as the bill to postpone local government elections was approved while the Rice Factories (Amendment) Bill 2006 and the Old Metal Dealers (Amendment) Bill, among others, were tabled.

For this period, in the 10th Parliament, the Local Authorities (Elections) (Amendment) Bill No.2 of 2012 and the Bill to raise the income tax threshold were tabled and passed. Supplementary Appropriation Bills and the Budget were also passed.

However, with regards to any major piece of legislation, the PPP would have to seek the support of at least one of the opposition parties since the governing party no longer holds a majority in the National Assembly. This, observers say, is the likely hitch with its legislative programme and it may require the three parties sitting down and thrashing out priorities for legislation. The opposition has also indicated that it is planning to bring its own bills.