KP speaker warns absentee officials could face budget delays

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Speaker Babar Saleem Swati has ordered attendance monitoring for bureaucrats assigned to the provincial assembly after taking notice of what he described as the repeated absence of relevant officials during proceedings.

During Tuesday’s budget session, the speaker said departments whose secretaries do not attend assembly sittings could face delays in the approval of their budgets. He expressed concern over the weak presence of senior officials and said the bureaucracy appeared to be showing little interest in the House’s proceedings.

Swati said officers and departmental secretaries are called to the assembly so they can answer lawmakers’ questions, but the concerned officials are often not present when needed. He linked the warning to the ongoing budget session, where departments are expected to remain available during scrutiny and discussion.

The speaker also intervened during the sitting after observing several members talking among themselves while a lawmaker was addressing the House. Urging order in the chamber, he told members that every legislator has the right to speak and be heard. "Please remain quiet so that the member can be heard. When a lawmaker raises issues concerning the public, it is the responsibility of the House to pay attention," Swati said.

His remarks came as the assembly continued its budget proceedings, with the speaker moving to enforce discipline both among lawmakers on the floor and among officials expected to attend the session.