Joint Parliamentary Session Scheduled for March 2
Islamabad – The government of Pakistan has announced a joint session of Parliament will convene on March 2nd, marking the commencement of the new parliamentary year. President Asif Ali Zardari is scheduled to address the combined session of lawmakers, a constitutional requirement at the start of each parliamentary year and following general elections.
According to sources within the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs, a summary outlining the session has been forwarded to the Prime Minister for approval, which will then be sent to President Zardari for formal ratification. The session is expected to focus on the administration’s legislative priorities and policy roadmap for the year ahead.
This will be President Zardari’s third annual address to the current parliament and his eighth overall. He previously delivered similar addresses five times during the 2009 National Assembly.
The Prime Minister’s Office has requested details from various ministries regarding their performance in the previous year and their plans for the upcoming year, to inform the President’s address. Following the joint session, separate sessions of the National Assembly and Senate will be held, continuing through the second week of March, during which the presidential address will be debated.
The parliamentary sessions are expected to adjourn by the third week of March. However, reports indicate that opposition parties, including the PTI, have threatened to disrupt the joint sitting if their demands are not met, specifically concerning the treatment of the party’s founder.
The convening of Parliament follows a period of political activity, and the session is anticipated to set the tone for legislative proceedings throughout the year. The government aims to use this opportunity to outline its agenda and secure support for key policy initiatives.
