NA speaker shares party-wise speaking time in Budget 2026–27 debate

ISLAMABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 17th Jun, 2026) National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Wednesday said the ongoing budget debate for the next financial year has crossed 32 hours and was expected to reach around 40 hours by the end of the day.

Addressing the House, he provided a detailed breakdown of speaking time used by different political parties during the Budget 2026–27 discussion.

He said lawmakers from the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) spoke for seven hours and 42 minutes, while still having eight hours and 12 minutes of their allocated time remaining.

Pakistan Peoples Party Parliamentarians (PPP) members delivered 10 hours and five minutes of speeches, exceeding their allotted time by about one hour and 10 minutes. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) lawmakers spoke for two hours and 51 minutes, also slightly over their quota by 12 minutes.

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From the opposition, 47 members of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spoke for 12 hours and 12 minutes, exceeding their allocated time by nearly two hours. The Speaker said members of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam and Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen also went beyond their speaking limits, while the Leader of the Opposition spoke for one hour and 16 minutes.

Sardar Ayaz Sadiq noted that if Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) needed more time, they could coordinate with PML-N to adjust their share. He said a total of 32 hours and four minutes of debate had already been completed.

Responding to a point raised by Chief Whip Amir Dogar, the Speaker recalled that last year’s budget debate lasted 60 hours, during which opposition members were given double their allotted time but still raised concerns about speaking opportunities.

APP/zah-man