The Information Ministry spent over Rs 6 million on refreshments for journalists in 2013.
According to Press Information Department (PID) documents, the ministry arranged 700 press conferences in 2013 incurring a total expenditure on Rs 5.97 million on foods and drinks provided to the journalists covering the events.
According to the documents, around Rs 2.29 million was spent on light refreshment served on the journalists in the form of samosas and pakoras.
According to the Information Ministry, around 30 press conferences are arranged every month, which incurs a cost of around Rs 7,000 on each journalist.
The available documents, however, neither mentions the name of the journalists nor the food items, which were served, on them in the year 2013.
An official in the finance ministry said that under the 2006 order, the information ministry could spend only Rs 30 rupees on refreshment and Rs 1,200 on lunch and dinner meant for each journalist every month.
The official said that any excess would tantamount to a violation of the law. Information Secretary Muhammad Azam when contacted refused to share any information.
