Legislative Support Services

Punjab Assembly Secretariat provides Legislative Support Services through the following Sections -

Punjab Assembly Library is the oldest Parliamentary Library in the country. It was established in 1921. It is a specialized Library. Nearly 55,000 books are available in the Library . It contains the books and material on the following subjects:

2. Proceedings of Senate, National Assembly, Punjab Assembly, Sindh Assembly and Balochistan Assembly are available. The Library has also collection of proceedings of different Assemblies of the world i.e. Proceedings of Indian State Assemblies, Legislative Assembly of India, (Pre-independence period), Indian Lok Sabha, House of Commons, House of Lords and US Congress.

Library uses LAMP (Library Automation and Management Programme) for cataloging and search of books. A book can be searched by Accession No, Classification No (DDC), Author, Title, Subject, International Standard Book Number and any word.

The Library also has Micro-filming section for the better management and preservation of valuable collection of antique books, debates and some other important documents. The microfilmed documents can be read through micro-film reader and reproduced with the help of micro-film printer.

The Library is also providing Internet facility to the Members of the Punjab Assembly. They can get latest information through Internet services.

A Member Provincial Assembly of the Punjab is entitled to get three books issued at the same time for a period of one month. The reference books e.g. Encyclopaedias, Dictionaries, Directories, Atlases, Maps, Almanacs, Gazettes, P.L.D., A.I.R., Periodicals, rare books, books out of print, files of newspapers and books in volumes, etc. shall not be issued.

PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS

Sr/#	Author	Title	Year of Publication
1	Mr Leiden, Brill	The Encyclopedia of Islam	2003
2	Prof. Farakh A. Khan	Waiting for Order	2000
3	Priyanee Wejesekere	Parliaments and Governments in the Next Millennium	1999
4	Campbell, Toom	Judicial Democracy and Legal Pakistan	2001
5	Rizvi, S. Shabbir	Fundamental Rights and Judicial	2000
6	Aslam, Khaki, Dr	Readings in Human Rights	2000
7	Zafar, M.A.	Pakistan Annual Law Digest, 2002	2002
8	Pckthall + Fateh	Holy Quran with English and Urdu translation
9	Raza, M. Hanif	Portrail of Pakistan	2003
10	PLD, Lahore	All Pakistan Legal Decisions	2003
11	Altaf Shaukat	Nizam-e-Kutabkhana	2003
12	Muhammad Arshad Ovaisi	Punjab Assembly mein Shero Shairee	1999

Punjab Assembly started Automation Services in 1993 and since then it has been improving.

Punjab Assembly designed and launched its web page in 1997. The important information is converted into electronic format and stored on the web page so that it is easily accessible to the users from all over the world.

1. List of the Legislators (Present, Past & Previous Assembly) with their names, political and professional careers, contact numbers, addresses and their biographies

3. Complete text of Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab 1997

This Secretariat has designed and developed a customized database for the storage and retrieval of data about the Members of the Assembly. This database contains information about constituency, personal biography, educational qualification, occupational and professional information and political careers of the members. This database provides different kinds of reports quickly to the users. Users can get report by name, constituency, city, party or any other field.

This Secretariat is also using a software to store the information about the employees of this Secretariat. The system maintains the information like personal biography, job experience, previous positions, training received, disciplinary actions and leave record of the employees. The system also provides many kinds of reports. A user can access the information through personal identification number, name, designation, NIC number, Tax number, scale, qualification, blood group, retirement age and 25 years service completion.

This Secretariat has also installed a latest PABX for internal communication and connected it with the personal computer. A special hardware and software is installed in computer. Users can send and receive voice messages to each other by using voice mail facility on the telephone extensions. Auto attendant receives all the incoming calls and redirect them to the specified extension without any need of operator. Auto-attendant can receive four calls simultaneously. This Secretariat has stored the following vital information in computer installed in exchange of the Punjab Assembly and it is accessible from anywhere round the clock by using digital telephone.

The publication activity in Punjab Assembly's Secretariat, was firstly initiated in 1985 under the directions and supervision of the Speaker Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo. The Punjab Assembly Secretariat produced a series of useful and informative publications about Punjab Assembly and Legislative matters. In 1997, a Research and Reference Wing was created to further accelerate the process of research and publications. A brief introduction of publications made so far is given below:-

The First publication by the Punjab Assembly Secretariat was "The Punjab Legislators". It was published in 1987. Unique feature of this 89 paged book is the title cover of it. It is designed with the miniatures of the original photographs of the old and present members of the Punjab Assembly. These photographs, in an array, beautifully adorn the title page as well as the back cover of the book.

This book contains name lists of members of Punjab Assembly from 1937 to 1988. Appendix to it also contains name of Members of Punjab Legislative Council from 1897 to 1936.

Published in 1987, 148 paged book, "Glimpses of Speeches in Punjab Assembly", is an assiduous study of hundreds of thousands of pages of recorded proceedings covering the period from 1921 to 1973. Though no claim was made that this was an exhaustive selection of best speeches, yet it definitely gave glimpses of speeches of certain stalwarts like Dr Muhammad Iqbal, Mir Maqbool Mahmood, Chaudhri Shahab ud Din, Chaudhry Zafarullah Khan, Malik Barkat Ali, Raja Gazanfar Ali Khan, Mr G. Allana, Makhdoomzada Syed Hassan Mahmood and others.

The "Punjab Assembly 1987" a 135 paged book was brought out on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of Punjab Assembly. It was designed and printed by Feroze sons (Pvt) Ltd., Lahore. It is a digest of information about the history, Constitution and working of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. Names and tenure of former Governors, former Chief Ministers, former Speakers, former Deputy Speakers are also given in the book. It contained some historic photographs alongwith useful information about Rules of Procedure and working of Committee System of the Punjab Assembly.

The "Golden Jubilee, Punjab Assembly 1937-87", a 207 paged book is a compilation of the speeches made during the Golden Jubilee special session of the Punjab Assembly, held on February 1 & 2, 1988. "Preface" is written by Hamid Nasir Chatha, the then Speaker of National Assembly of Pakistan.

The "Seminar 87" is a compilation of the speeches made and discussions held in the seminar on legislative process held on March 24 & 25, 1987 under the auspices of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab. It includes highly illuminating lectures, on the subjects, by Mr Wasim Sajjad, former Minister for Law and Parliamentary Affairs and Chairman, Senate of Pakistan, Sardar Wazir Ahmad Jogezai, the then Deputy Speaker, National Assembly of Pakistan, Raja Aman ullah Khan, the then Speaker NWFP Assembly, Haji Muhammad Saif ullah Khan, former MNA and Federal Minister for Religious Affairs, Chaudhry Muhmmad Anwar Bhinder, former Speaker Punjab Assembly and Prof. Sardar Muhammad Iqbal Khan Mokal, Principal Punjab University Law College.

The "Punjab Assembly 1988-90", 186 paged publication is infact a digest of information about the history, constitution and working of the Punjab Assembly. Life sketches along with photographs of the Governor, the Chief Minister, The Speaker, the Deputy Speaker, the Leader of Opposition, the Ministers, the Advisors, the Parliamentary Secretaries, the Chairman of the Standing Committees and all MPAs of the Assembly constitute a major portion of the book. Besides it the activities of the Assembly have also been narrated in the book. Some historic photographs of Assembly building with its grandeur and beauty are also made essential part of it.

In the year 1997, the Punjab Assembly Secretariat, under the impetus and inspiration dispensed by the Speaker Chaudhry Parvez Elahi, and under supervision and guidance of Dr Syed Abul Hassan Najmee, the Secretary Provincial Assembly of Punjab, compiled a handy book about elected members of Punjab Assembly in 1997. In this 172 paged book, brief synopsis of the Members of Punjab Assembly 1997-99, showing date and place of birth, academic qualification, party affiliation and a gist of their parliamentary career is given. The data contained in this hand book is based on the particulars provided by the members themselves.

The Punjab Assembly Secretariat in 1997, published a 139 paged book entitled "Punjab Assembly Rulings (1985 - 1996)". Important rulings given by the Speakers, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Mr Muhammad Haneef Ramay and Mian Manzoor Ahmad Mohal, Deputy Speaker, while occupying the chair are made part of this book. The Speaker's rulings constitute precedents by which the later Speakers, members and officers are guided.

The Punjab Assembly Secretariat, in 1997, published 176 paged book entitled, "Rules of Procedure of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab 1997". This book consisted upon 18 chapters along with six schedules. The Rules of Procedure of Provincial Assembly of Punjab 1997 are in fact an improvement over 1973 rules made by the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

In 2002, Provincial Assembly of Punjab Secretariat, published up to date and revised edition of, "Punjab Parliamentary Privileges", comprising 120 pages, which was earlier published in 1997. It consisted upon nine chapters dealing with the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Privileges Act 1972, the Punjab Provincial Assembly Speaker (Salary, Allowances, and Privileges) Act 1975, the Punjab Provincial Assembly Deputy Speaker (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) Act, 1975, the Punjab Ministers (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges) Act 1975, The Punjab Advisors (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) ordinance 2002, the Punjab Special Assistants (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) ordinance 2002, the Punjab Parliamentary Secretaries (Salary, Allowances and Privileges) ordinance 2002, the Punjab Provincial Assembly (Salaries, Allowances and Privileges of Members) Act 1974 and the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab Hostel Rules 2002.

Published in 2001 “Punjab Assembly Decisions 1947-1999” 541 paged book is collection of decisions of the chair from 1947 to 1999 on 23 different topics of public importance and common interest. Each decision begins with a compendium containing a concise statement of issues involved and the decision given. The Presiding officers who gave their rulings upon different issues include Sh. Faiz Muhammad, Dr Khalifa Shuja-ud-Din, Ch Fazal Elahi, Mr Mobin-ul-Haq Siddiqui, Ch Muhammad Anwar Bhinder, Mr Umar Jan Khan, Mr Ahmad Mian Soomro, Syed Yousaf Ali Shah, Mr Rafiq Ahmad Sheikh, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, Mr Muhammad Haneef Ramay and Ch Pervaiz Elahi.

The publication consists of quite number of those decisions, which have the effect of resolving complicated legal, constitutional and procedural issues, and may serve as a bacon light for the existing and future parliamentarians and others.

The Law Department, Government of the Punjab, published the up-to-date and authentic collection of laws of Punjab Government as the Punjab Code (now Punjab Laws) in the year 1937 in two volumes [Volume-I (1806-1879) and Volume-II (1900-1936)]. The Volume-I remained unaltered. however, a revised edition of Volume-II was issued in 1966, along with two additional volumes containing laws from 1937 to 1955. The West Pakistan Laws from 1956 to 1962 were also compiled in three volumes and published in 1968. Subsequently, yearly volumes were issued upto 1970 but on the dissolution of One Unit, this work could not be completed.

The changes in the existing laws and the enactment of new laws are a necessary corollary of a developing society. It becomes difficult in the absence of an up-to-date and authentic version of the laws to keep pace with the current situation.On the initiative of Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Sahi, Speaker, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab took the responsibility and deputed a dedicated team which brought out an up-to-date version of the said publication. The work was completed in a short span of time and very accurately.

Now an up-to-date version of Punjab Laws, is available on www.punjablaws.gov.pk. We hope that this would serve as a beacon light for the public representatives, lawyers, courts, research scholars, Government Departments and citizens alike.

Under the able supervision and guidance of Mr Saeed Ahmad, Acting Secretary Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, the following publications are in the pipeline:

The Publication would be the collection of brief synopsis of the Members of the present Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, showing date and place of birth, academic qualification, party affiliation and a gist of parliamentary career. This would be the second edition of "Biography of Members-2002" of the sitting Assembly. This would serve as a brief but authentic introduction of the sitting Members of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab, for the fraternity of parliamentarians as well as the people whom they represent.The said publication is in progress and would be available soon.

The need to compile a consolidated list of Members of the Punjab Assembly during the post-Independence period and the pre-Independence period had long been felt for the purpose of research in the parliamentary legislative history of the Punjab Province. Firstly it was published by the Research & Publications Cell, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab in 1987 on the initiative of the then Speaker, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo.

Visualizing the significance of the research facilities for the legislature, Chaudhry Muhammad Afzal Sahi, Speaker Provincial Assembly of the Punjab constituted a separate Editorial Board comprising Mr Saeed Ahmad, Secretary, Mr Ianayat Ullah Lak, Director (Research & Publications), Mr Khalid Mehmood, Senior Translator and Dr Muhammad Arshad Ovaisi, Translator, to revise the present edition. The Board has now successfully compiled a comprehensive list of the Punjab Legislators, along with brief history of this oldest and largest legislature from its first inception in 1897 to date. Which include the total number of acts passed during each tenure, total number of membership and sittings of each assembly, date of first and last sitting and under which act / provision of the constitution,they were constituted.The said publication is at the final stage of printing and would also be available on the website in near future.

THE LEGISLATIVE SUPPORT SERVICES

PERIODICALS AND NEWSPAPERS