Only one in four MNAs attend budget session
The session began with strong participation — 83% attendance was recorded on the opening day when the Finance Bill 2025 was introduced. However, attendance declined to a session-low of 57% during the third sitting, which featured general budget discussions. Participation gradually recovered, peaking at 93% on the day the Finance Bill was passed. Lawmakers repeatedly voiced concern over the absence of key ministers during budget debates, prompting the Chair to direct relevant finance portfolio holders to attend.
Records show that 235 MNAs (75% of the House) missed at least one sitting. Of these, only 79 (34%) formally submitted leave applications — 13 applied in advance, while 46 submitted applications after returning. Twenty lawmakers had their leave requests read mid-absence. Notably, 156 members (66% of absentees) failed to apply for leave altogether. Additionally, six MNAs submitted leave requests for previous sessions.
Attendance varied across demographics: Female MNAs: 22 women (41% of all female members) — 19 on reserved and three on general seats — attended all sittings. Minority MNAs: All seven attended more than half the sittings; three attended every session. Male MNAs on general seats: 10 (4%) missed the entire session, 35 (14%) attended less than half, and 208 (82%) were present in more than half of the sittings, including 54 (21%) with full attendance.
Regional attendance trends showed Islamabad Capital Territory leading with 100% attendance from all three of its MNAs. Punjab and Sindh followed, with 85% and 86% of MNAs respectively attending more than half of the sittings. In Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 39 MNAs participated in over half of the sittings, with 15 attending all. Balochistan recorded 75% attendance in the same category.
Party-wise attendance was highest among MNAs from PML-N, PPPP, MQMP, and SIC, most of whom attended more than half of the sittings. The sole MWMP lawmaker marked full attendance. Lawmakers from BAP, NP, and PML-Z were also largely present. However, PKMAP's only representative attended less than half of the session.
The "Others" category includes parties with fewer than eight MNAs — such as BAP, MWMP, NP, PKMAP, PML, PML-Z, and IPP. The BNP's sole member has tendered resignation, but it has yet to be officially accepted.
To prioritise budget debate, the National Assembly suspended routine proceedings, including Question Hour, Calling Attention Notices (CANs), and public importance matters. This suspension was approved in the second sitting, though only one of seven concerned ministers was present on that day.
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