Pakistan, Nov. 11 -- The federal government spent more than Rs5 trillion on devolved provincial subjects and on ministries created on Council of Common Interests (CCI) matters in violation of the Constitution, the head of a Senate panel claimed on Tuesday. Citing data from the report of the Auditor General of Pakistan, Senator Barrister Zamir Hussain Ghumro, chairing a sub-committee of the Senate Functional Committee on Devolution, said the figure was equivalent to more than $18 billion.

The convener said the country was facing twin issues of exorbitant federal expenditure and heavy borrowing totalling $135bn. "At present, federal government expenditure stands at around Rs19 trillion, while total tax and non-tax revenue was Rs20tr, leavi...