ISLAMABAD: After the passage of the State Bank bill in the Senate on Friday, Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi thanked Senate Leader Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani.
In a statement, he stated that Yousuf Raza Gillani did his part today, demonstrating that when the leader of the opposition was elected with government votes, good results were obtained.
Today, the opposition’s claims were exposed, he said, adding that despite having a numerical majority in the Senate, the opposition was exposed by its defeat in the Senate.
Today, on an important bill, the opposition leader provided the government an opportunity to congratulate him, demonstrating the reality of the opposition coalition, he added.
He claimed that the opposition was making claims solely to keep its followers’ spirits up, he claimed, adding that the opposition had lost its strength.
Our government was confronted with the dilemma of price increases. We will succeed if we keep hold of it. “
Earlier on Friday, the Senate passed the State Bank of Pakistan Amendment Bill by a single vote, according to Bol News.
Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin’s bill was met with significant criticism from members of the opposing benches. Despite the uproar, the amendment bill was approved with 44 votes in favour and 43 votes against.
As a number of members of the Treasury benches were missing from the session, the federal government requested time from Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani to propose the amendment bill at the opening of the session.
“It is not my responsibility to propose the bill; Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin should return to the session,” stated Senate Chairperson Sanjrani. During the session, opposition members chanted anti-government chants and demanded a discussion on the bill in the house.
The law was previously passed by the National Assembly at a recent session. The bill reduces the Finance Ministry’s jurisdiction over the State Bank while also removing one of the key impediments to reviving a $6 billion IMF programme.
The law was supported by members of the administration and its supporters in the National Assembly and Senate. Another bill, dubbed “SBP Amendment Act 2021,” is pending with the government, and it is unclear when it will be presented to Parliament.
