The Senate of Pakistan (Aiwān-i bālā Pākistān), is the upper legislative chamber of the bicameral legislature of Pakistan, and together with the National Assembly makes up the Parliament of Pakistan.
First convened in 1973, the Senate's composition and powers are established by the Article 59 of the Constitution of Pakistan. Each four provinces are represented by fourteen senators and eight senators from the tribal areas regardless of population, who serve staggered six-year terms. The Senate secretariat is located in the east wing of the Parliament Building; the National Assembly convenes in the west wing of the same building.
The Senate has several exclusive powers not granted to the National Assembly, including the powers of making parliamentary bills as a being enforced into law. In the senate, the elections are held every three years for one half of the Senate and each Senator has a term of six years.The Constitution forbids any actions against dissolving the senate instead sets the serving terms of its senators.
Province/Territory | General seats | Technocrats/Ulema | Women | Non-Muslim | Total |
Balochistan | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 23 |
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 23 |
Sindh | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 23 |
Punjab | 14 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 23 |
Tribal Areas (FATA) | 8 | 8 | |||
Islamabad Capital Territory | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | |
Total | 66 | 17 | 17 | 4 | 104 |
Appointment
(1) The Senate shall consist of 104 members, of whom:
(a) 14 shall be elected by the members of each Provincial Assembly;
(b) eight shall be elected by direct and free vote from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas, in such manner as the President may, by Order, prescribe;
(c) two on general seats, and one woman and one technocrat including aalim shall be elected from the Federal Capital in such manner as the President may, by Order, prescribe;
(d) four women shall be elected by the members of each Provincial Assembly;
(e) four technocrats including ulema shall be elected by the members of each Provincial Assembly.
(f) one seat in the senate is reserved for minorities in each province."