KARACHI, Nov 7: Underlining the need for improving tax and resource-generating system in Sindh, the Sindh finance minister, Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, said on Wednesday that the federal government would also be approached for getting more funds for the province.

The Provincial Finance Commission should also make efforts for evolving a viable fiscal system at the district level, he said while speaking at a departmental briefing.

Secretary of Finance Fazalur Rahman informed the minister that the Sindh government had paid an amount of Rs7 billion to WAPDA and a decision on the remaining arrears is expected in a weeks time.

As regards payment of salaries, he said that 50 per cent, out of Rs15.2 billion, and the same proportion of Rs1.4 billion allocated for non-salary account, had been released to district governments. It was further informed that Rs4 billion would be required for payment of salaries to the provincial government employees under the new pay scales.

The secretary said that 50 per cent of Rs2.8 billion would also be provided to districts as provincial share under Khushhal Pakistan Program phase-III.

Dr. Hafeez stressed on early development of a web site and networking of the finance department linking it with the districts and said officials from the surplus pool be posted at district level to help district governments in an effective fiscal planning.—PPI