Do you know the cost of a single National Assembly session?
Elected representatives, chosen by the people’s votes, head to assemblies with a solemn commitment to serve the country and its citizens, enacting laws to address public issues.
However, the cost of maintaining these democratic institutions is substantial, with significant expenses incurred for each session of the national and provincial assemblies, including travel allowances, protocol, and other necessities.
A five-year report released by PILDAT on October 5, 2023, sheds light on these expenses.
Glimpses from today’s session of the National Assembly#NASession #Budget20242025 pic.twitter.com/9L3VL6GriM
— National Assembly 🇵🇰 (@NAofPakistan) June 23, 2024
Cost of a single National Assembly session:
The report reveals that the average daily cost of a National Assembly session is a staggering 66.5 million rupees, with the hourly cost amounting to 24.2 million rupees.
Based on this data, the estimated expense for a recent seven-day session is at least 465 million rupees.
Over the past five years, the National Assembly has spent an average of 20.5 million rupees per MNA.
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These funds are intended to support members in their duty to think and act for the public welfare, rather than merely engaging in partisan discussions.
Despite these significant expenditures, the effectiveness of the National Assembly is often hampered by quorum issues.
In the past five years, there have been 105 instances of quorum problems, leading to the postponement of 72 sessions due to an incomplete quorum.
This recurring issue raises questions about the efficiency and accountability of the assembly members in fulfilling their legislative responsibilities.
