ISLAMABAD, March 29: Sindh has contributed about Rs1.085 trillion or 56.7 per cent to Pakistan's Rs1.9 trillion revenue collected during 1998-2003 but it got only Rs221.3 billion or 26.7 of the total Rs826.8 billion disbursed to the four provinces.

Parliamentary Secretary for Finance Division Omar Ayub in response to a question of MQM member Kunwar Khalid Yunus during the question hour told the National Assembly here on Monday that a sum of Rs826.8 billion was disbursed among the four provinces under the National Finance Commission (NFC) from 1998-03 as against a total collection of Rs1.9 trillion through direct and indirect taxes.

Out of Rs826.8 billion, Sindh was provided Rs259.9 billion during 1998 to 2003 when the total collection from Sindh was Rs1.085 trillion. Similarly, Punjab was provided Rs397.9 billion under the NFC during the same period when its contribution was Rs675.8 billion.

The NWFP was provided with Rs109.6 billion when a total amount of Rs105.2 billion was collected from the province. Balochistan was given Rs97.9 billion when the federal government received a total amount of Rs46.8 billion as collection from 1998-03.

Explaining the reason as to why Sindh was provided with far too less amount than the actual collections, Omar Ayub said major collections in the shape of customs and taxes came through the two major sea ports of Pakistan, including Karachi Port Trust (KPT) and Port Qasim.

"This competitive advantage to Sindh is only due to these sea ports from where major contribution comes," he said. However, he requested for a fresh notice when asked by Khurshid Shah of PPP to inform the house about the total collection from the dry ports situated in different parts of the country.

Replying to another question, the parliamentary secretary said a total expenditure of Rs1.4 million was incurred on local and foreign trips and entertainment allowance of President, Zari Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL), Mr Istiqlal Mehdi from the date of his appointment (2001) to-date.

He, however, defended ZTBL president by saying that foreign or local trips were important because "he has to attend important meetings." He said the bank was under a restructuring phase and the federal government had also injected Rs16 billion to improve its performance. During the last six months, ZTBL had already disbursed agricultural loans worth Rs15 billion.