A crucial meeting of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Commerce was abruptly adjourned on Monday amidst strong condemnation from parliamentarians after the Minister for Commerce, the Secretary, and the Special Secretary failed to attend the session, a move members decried as a profound disrespect to Parliament.
The committee, chaired by MNA Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan at Parliament House, was scheduled to deliberate on significant national economic issues. The agenda included the Strategic Trade Policy Framework, State Bank of Pakistan support for kinnow exports via the Iran land route, and various sub-committee reports concerning sugar, natural resources, and gemstones.
Before the formal proceedings could commence, committee members expressed their collective outrage over the non-attendance of the ministry’s top leadership. Several parliamentarians, who had travelled from distant constituencies for the session, labeled the absence as a reflection of a non-serious attitude towards critical parliamentary functions.
Expressing his own frustration, Chairman Muhammad Jawed Hanif Khan characterized the ministry’s conduct as an “irresponsible and utterly non-serious” approach to legislative oversight. He stated that without the required officials present to provide briefings, he was left with no alternative but to postpone the proceedings, announcing a new date would be scheduled later.
The decision was met with unanimous support from the members, who condemned the behavior as a blatant disregard for a constitutionally mandated parliamentary forum. MNA Gul Asghar Khan described the ministry’s attitude as “highly contemptuous and unacceptable,” while MNA Asad Alam Niazi reinforced that the presence of the minister and secretary was mandatory for any meaningful discussion to occur.
The session was attended by MNAs Dr Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Ms Shaista Pervaiz, Mr Farhan Chishti, Mr Asad Alam Niazi, Mr Ramesh Kumar Wankwani, and Mr Gul Asghar Khan. In contrast to the top commerce officials’ absence, senior officers from the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), Finance Division, Board of Investment, and the Ministry of National Food Security and Research were present.