PLDPT Report Highlights Federal Cabinet Members’ Performance in Parliament

Islamabad:The Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PLDPT) has released the performance report of federal ministries for the past year. With the first year of the 16th National Assembly coming to a close on February 28, 2025, PLDPT evaluated the performance of ministers in Parliament, based on legislative activities and participation in parliamentary sessions.

PLDPT utilized objective twin parameters to assess the ministers’ performance in Parliament: their attendance and the amount of time they spent speaking during sessions. The 16th National Assembly, which began its term on February 29, 2024, saw the re-election of half of the Senate’s members on April 9, 2024.

According to PLDPT’s analysis, Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar emerged as the most influential and effective member of the federal cabinet during the 2024-2025 parliamentary session. He holds three key portfolios: Law and Justice, Human Rights, and Parliamentary Affairs. Senator Tarar earned this distinction due to his impressive legislative record, having secured the passage of 38 government bills, including constitutional amendments and major legislation—a new record.

He actively participated in parliamentary sessions, attending 57% (89 out of 157) of the sessions, and spoke for over 17 hours during the sessions.

Minister of Defense, Production, and Aviation, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, ranked second in attendance and speaking time, having participated in 44% (69 sessions) and spoken for over 5.5 hours.

Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, secured third place with participation in 42% (67 sessions), though he spoke for only 31 minutes, earning him 17th position in the speaking-time rankings.

Federal Minister for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, along with Minister for National Food Security and Research, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for Housing and Works, and State Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Power Division, Ali Pervaiz Malik, ranked fourth in participation, having attended 42% (66 sessions) and speaking for a respective total of 1 hour 44 minutes, 1 hour 1 minute, and 1 hour 31 minutes.

In terms of speaking time, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Ataullah Tarar, ranked third, speaking for almost 4.5 hours, though he participated in only 40% (63) of the sessions.

Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Aurangzeb ranked fifth in speaking time, having spoken for approximately 4 hours, while participating in only 22% (35) of the sessions.

Despite attending just 6% (10) of the sessions and speaking for only 12 minutes, Senator Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi, the Federal Minister for Interior, ranked second-last in both categories, providing a low standard of parliamentary engagement.

Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment, Senator Ahad Cheema, ranked at the bottom of the list, attending only 9 sessions and speaking for a mere 1 minute.

This analysis is based on data from the National Assembly sessions concluded on February 18, 2025, and the Senate sessions, which ended on February 21, 2025.