Punjab Assembly holds first fully paperless session under e-Assembly system

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday held its first fully paperless sitting under the new e-Assembly system, marking the legislature’s formal shift to digital proceedings.

The session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began after a delay of one hour and 53 minutes. At the start of proceedings, newly elected MPA Zafar Abbas took oath as a member of the house. The assembly also offered fateha for former lawmakers Malik Nadeem Kamran and Safdar Leghari, as well as for citizens who recently died in Turbat.

Speaker Khan also congratulated Fahad Shahbaz, an alumnus associated with the General Youth Assembly, for being included in an American magazine’s list of influential young leaders. Lawmakers responded with a standing ovation from their desks.

Digital transition and assembly business

The speaker said the move to a paperless system signalled the start of a more advanced phase for the provincial legislature. He told the house that tablets protected by unique codes had been placed at the seats of all members and said the digital system would be improved and streamlined over time. He added that some hard copies of bills and essential papers would continue to be supplied until the transition was fully optimised.

According to the speaker, the shift would significantly reduce paper use, help conserve forests, lower the carbon footprint and save millions of rupees from the public exchequer. Treasury lawmakers Samiullah Khan and Amjad Ali Javed praised him for leading the initiative.

During Question Hour, the house discussed matters related to the revenue and colonies departments. Members raised issues linked to public complaints, revenue irregularities and the rehabilitation of flood victims. MPA Amjad Ali Javed told the assembly that 758 acres of state land worth about Rs4 billion had been retrieved from land mafias and fraudsters in Toba Tek Singh. He also said some government officials were reluctant to act against influential groups involved in such encroachments.

In a discussion on leasing of state land in Khanewal, Parliamentary Secretary Awn Jahangir said 6,700 acres of government land had been leased out.

Ordinances and bills introduced

Several ordinances and bills were introduced during the sitting, including the Punjab Judicial Academy Amendment Ordinance 2026, the Punjab Food Safety Laws Amendment Ordinance 2026, the Aga Khan Properties Succession and Transfer Bill 2026, and the Punjab Trusts Amendment Bill 2026.

Other proposed legislation introduced in the house included the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders and Anti-Social Behaviour Bill 2026, the Quaid-e-Azam Institute of Management Sciences Sargodha Bill 2026, the Public Sector Medical Universities (Amendment) Bill 2026, which proposes raising the maximum age for appointing vice chancellors from 65 to 75, the Punjab Consolidation of Holdings Bill 2026, the Punjab Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism Amendment Bill 2026, the Anti-Terrorism (Punjab Amendment) Bill 2026, the Societies Registration (Amendment) Bill 2026, and the Punjab Vegetable Market Lahore (Repeal) Bill 2026.

All of the bills were referred to the relevant standing committees for two months of detailed consideration.

Opposition protest over wheat issue

Political tensions emerged when opposition members protested after they were not allowed to discuss wheat-related matters. Opposition MPA Mushtaq Ahmed then pointed out a lack of quorum, leading to the ringing of assembly bells.

After the house was found to be short of the required number of members, Speaker Khan rebuked Chief Whip Rana Muhammad Arshad and reminded him that maintaining quorum was his responsibility. The chair then adjourned proceedings until Tuesday afternoon.