Outgoing Senators have emphasized strengthening of the parliament.

Speaking at the farewell debate, Ilyas Bilaur said parliament is supreme and all political issues should be resolved at this forum.

Muhammad Saleh Shah said recommendations of the elected representatives of FATA should be given priority, while deciding fate of the tribal areas.

Maulana Tanveer-ul-Haq Thanvi said continuity of democracy is the only way forward to put the country on the way of development, progress, and prosperity.

Tahir Hussain Mashhadi said parliament will have to regain its powers to establish its supremacy in the country.

Khalida Parveen said she joined politics to serve the masses and vowed to continue this mission even after getting retired from the Senate.

Kamil Ali Agha said Pakistan is a federation, which can be strengthened by empowering smaller provinces.

Among others, who also spoke include Saeedul Hassan Mandokhail and Sehar Kamran.

Responding to a calling attention notice, Minister for States and Frontier Regions Abdul Qadir Baloch said petroleum prices in Pakistan are still the lowest in South Asia.

He rejected the impression that petroleum prices are decreasing in the international market, while the same are being increased in Pakistan. He said that increase or decrease in the petroleum prices in the international market are passed on the general public.

The Minister said petroleum prices are revised on monthly basis in light of the commodity prices in the global market.The Senate today passed two bills. These are: “The Corporate Rehabilitation Bill, 2018” moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Shaikh Aftab Ahmed and “The Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2017” moved by Karim Ahmed Khawaja and others. The first bill is aimed at rehabilitation and re-organization of distressed corporate entities, while the second one provides for protection, relief and rehabilitation of rights of the transgender persons and their welfare and for matters connected there with and incidental thereto.

The House will now meet again tomorrow at 3:30 p.m.