Karachi, June 21 : A Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) in Sindh triggered a fresh debate yesterday by raising a question in the Assembly during the ongoing Budget Session, whether it was legal to use the revenue collected from sale of liquor on public welfare, especially when consumption of liquor was considered “haram” in Islam and its sale to Muslims banned in the country.

Salim Khurshid Khokhar, an MPA from a minority community, raised the question to which the provincial excise minister didn’t seem to have an answer.

Provincial Excise Minister Mukesh Kumar expressed ignorance on the issue and advised Khokhar to address such questions to the finance department, reported the Daily Times.

According to Kumar, the excise department was only responsible for the collection of taxes, while the finance department was responsible for revenue utilization on public welfare.

Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah holds the finance portfolio in the province at present.

According to official figures, the government earned over Rs 1.6 billion from tariffs and excise duty on liquor during the last fiscal year. (ANI)