Senate to debate sweeping legislative agenda amid mounting SOE losses

August 12, 2025 (MLN): The Senate is set to convene today at 4:00 p.m. in Islamabad, with a packed legislative agenda that spans education reform, trade protection, disability rights, and fiscal accountability, according to the notification issued by the Senate Secretariat. 

The session, summoned by President Asif Ali Zardari under Article 54 of the Constitution, came as the government grapples with mounting losses from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and contentious trade policies.

SOE losses top Rs5.89tr

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri is expected to raise alarm over the Finance Division’s Biannual Performance Report, which reveals that SOEs incurred staggering losses of Rs5.89 trillion in the first half of FY2024-25.

The figures are likely to intensify scrutiny of public sector governance and fuel calls for structural reforms.

Commerce Ministry faces pressure over tariff retention

Senator Zeeshan Khan Zada will call attention to the Ministry of Commerce’s decision to retain regulatory duties on over 300 tariff lines, including seafood, fruits, and vegetables, under the five-year Tariff Policy Reform Plan.

The move has drawn criticism from importers and consumer groups amid rising inflation and food insecurity.

Education reform on the table

Federal Education Minister Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui will introduce the Daanish Schools Authority Bill, 2025, aimed at formalizing the management of the government-run Daanish Schools network.

The initiative seeks to expand access to quality education in underserved regions, though critics have questioned its scalability and funding model.

Anti-dumping law amendment up for debate

Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan will move to pass amendments to the Anti-Dumping Duties Act, 2015.

The proposed changes, already vetted by the Standing Committee, are designed to strengthen Pakistan’s trade defense mechanisms amid rising global protectionism and regional competition.

Human Rights Committee pushes disability rights Bill

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Chairperson of the Functional Committee on Human Rights, will present a report on the ICT Rights of Persons with Disability (Amendment) Bill, 2024.

Introduced by Senator Dr. Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur, the bill seeks to enhance legal protections and service delivery for persons with disabilities in the Islamabad Capital Territory.

Reports on Gender Parity, Islamic Ideology

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar will table two key reports: the Annual Report of the Council of Islamic Ideology for 2020-21 and the Gender Parity Report ICT for 2023, issued by the National Commission on the Status of Women.

Both documents are expected to inform future legislative priorities on social justice and religious jurisprudence.

The Senate session would mark a pivotal moment for Pakistan’s legislative arena, as lawmakers confront economic headwinds, social equity challenges, and the need for institutional reform.

Copyright Mettis Link News