ISLAMABAD: The Senate Finance Committee Wednesday granted approval to various expenditures earmarked for the next fiscal including approval of the Revised Budget Estimates for the year 2014-2015 and the budget estimates for year 2015-2016.
The first meeting of the reconstituted Senate Finance Committee was held at the Parliament House and the meeting was presided over by Chairman Senate Mian Raza Rabbani here.
The Senate Finance Committee decided it would make the payment of Rs 30 million towards sharing the cost with the National Assembly in co-hosting the Commonwealth Parliamentary Conference coming up in September this year, according to press release.
The Chairman Senate solicited views of all members present during the meeting and took decisions based on consensus.
He informed the Committee that while exercising economy in expenditure, efforts are being made to improve the sitting and working conditions in the Senate Hall, besides other initiatives in the pipeline, for better discharge of functioning.
The Chairman Senate informed the Committee that the capacity building of the Secretariat staff was highly important, therefore, there was a dire need for making PIPS a vibrant and effective institution. Member of the Committee endorsed the views.
The Committee also stressed the need for improving the quality of the Senate cafeteria as its current condition and food was sub-standard.
The meeting was attended by Leader of the House in the Senate, Raja Muhammad Zafar ul Haq, Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Aitzaz Ahsan besides Senators Syed Shibli Faraz, Mrs. Nuzhat Sadiq, Hidayatullah and Col (R) Syed Tahri Hussain Mashhadi.
Secretary Senate Amjed Pervez Malik, Senior Officers of the Ministry of Finance, Revenue and Senate Secretariat were also present during the meeting.
