Islamabad, The National Assembly commenced discussions today on President Asif Ali Zardari’s address to the Parliament last month, focusing on rule of law and foreign investment, alongside setting new standards for foreign-trained doctors’ accreditation examinations.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the Opposition leader Omar Ayub Khan opened the debate, emphasizing the necessity of upholding the rule of law to attract more foreign direct investment and strengthen democratic institutions. He also called for the establishment of a judicial commission to investigate the incidents of May 9. In another development, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Azam Nazeer Tarar responded to a calling attention notice by announcing that the accreditation examinations for doctors with foreign degrees would now be held twice annually, in June and December, with the pass mark reduced from 70% to 60%.

The session also saw the extension of “The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Ordinance, 2024” for an additional 120 days. Meanwhile, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif criticized the PTI for last year’s attacks on military installations and desecration of martyrs’ monuments, calling for an apology and urging them to refrain from targeting state institutions. The House adjourned until 11 a.m. tomorrow after paying respects to deceased security personnel and workers from Punjab killed in Balochistan.