ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Friday was informed that the previous government borrowed a staggering Rs8,136 billion, with no traceability. Minister of State for Privatisation informed the assembly that an investigation was being carried out regarding the previous government’s borrowing and spending.

Dastagir added that a total of Rs6,044 billion was borrowed in total by all of Pakistan’s governments preceding the last government.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the previous government borrowed international loans amounting to $2.057billion during the past two years.

Out of this, the majority, amounting to a total of $1.9 billion was borrowed from China.

Chaudhry Nisar stated that in the last 5 years 67,522 prohibited arms licenses were issued, whereas 119,667 non-prohibited arms licenses were issued.

Ishaq Dar, the Finance Minister of Pakistan, told the assembly that the government had earned revenues worth Rs 1.46 billion in June alone due to the one per cent increase in General sales tax (GST).

The Telecommunication Company, Etisalat, still had to pay $800 million to the government, according to the federal finance minister.

He added that for this reason PTCL did not transfer 131 of its properties to Etisalat.

In other related news, opposition party, Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM), protested against the absence Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmakers from the National Assembly session, prompting the National Assembly speaker Ayaz Sadiq to comment on the non-serious attitude of the government.

The National Assembly speaker pointed out the uselessness of assembly sessions in the absence of government members.

Chief whip of the PML-N, Sheikh Aftab, apologised for the absence of his colleagues at the NA session and said that he would speak to Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif regarding the issue.

Moreover the NA secretariat issued notifications for the formation of 34 standing committees in the assembly. The period for the current NA session was also extended for a week.