ISLAMABAD, March 17: The ministry of foreign affairs was provided with Rs35 million against a demand of Rs55 million to organize the 12th Saarc summit in the capital early this year.

Foreign Minister Khurshid Mehmood Kasuri told the National Assembly in a written statement on Wednesday that the actual expenditure in organizing the summit was more than Rs44 million.

He said currently his ministry was in the process of making payments for the expenditure as well as collecting the remaining bills. So far, the Foreign Office has paid Rs25.14 million while the amount of known outstanding bills is approximately Rs19 million.

The summit was attended by the heads of state or government from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka along with their delegations.