Islamabad; July 19, 2019:

Speaker National Assembly Mr. Asad Qaiser called on Prime Minister of Pakistan Mr. Imran Khan, this afternoon.

Matters relating to parliamentary business were discussed.

The Speaker briefed the Prime Minister about the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Asia Regional Conference being held in Islamabad from 29th July, 2019. He apprised that the Conference would be an apt opportunity to discuss and suggest way forward for inclusion of women and youth in national development besides, envisioning parliamentary path towards a diverse and developed south Asia.

Briefing the Prime Minister about austerity measures, the Speaker informed that budget of the National Assembly for the year 2019-20 was the lowest in national history. He informed that National Assembly after clearing liabilities of Rs.293.913 million of previous years had saved Rs.638.698 million from the budgetary grant of fiscal year 2018-19 and surrendered to the National exchequer.

The Prime Minster appreciated the austerity measures adopted by the National Assembly resulting in huge saving without compromising service delivery and performance. The Prime Minister said that the country was faced with economic challenges and adopting austerity measures will result in saving of national resources. The Prime Minister also appreciated the holding of CPA Conference and termed it a way forward for brining participant countries and their Parliaments closer.