ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat convened at Parliament House, chaired by Senator Rana Mahmood-ul-Hassan, to discuss crucial legislative bills and other matters. The Committee postponed its decision on “The Civil Servants (Amendment) Bill, 2026,” while it unanimously approved the “Standard Time (Interpretation of References) (Amendment) Bill, 2026.”

According to Senate of Pakistan, the Committee, attended by Senators Saleem Mandviwalla, Saadia Abbasi, and Muhammad Abdul Qadir, with Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti joining via Zoom, considered delegating decision-making powers from the Prime Minister and Federal Cabinet to Federal Secretaries to enhance administrative efficiency. The Committee deferred the Bill to incorporate amendments aimed at reducing delays.

The Committee also reviewed the procedure for the international deputation of federal employees, recommending dual approval by the concerned department and the Prime Minister to streamline the process. Additionally, the Committee addressed the Pakistan Standard Time discrepancy, correcting it to five hours and thirty minutes ahead of GMT.

The financial structure of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) was examined, revealing that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) retains 5 percent of revenue from broadcasting rights and sponsorships, with the remainder distributed among franchises. Concerns were raised about the absence of female members on the PCB Board, leading to a recommendation for inclusive representation from all provinces and territories.

The PCB’s plan to renovate Karachi Stadium at an estimated cost of Rs. 4.8 billion was also discussed, with tenders expected soon. The Committee noted the high construction costs for modern stadiums, ranging from Rs. 12 billion to Rs. 14 billion.