ISLAMABAD: Leader of Opposition in National Assembly, Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Thursday said federal government should protect the rights of smaller provinces. Speaking in the National Assembly on a point of order, he said the federal government gave Rs 10.4 billion to MNAs from Punjab, Rs 800 million from Sindh, Rs 480 million from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Rs 440 million from Balochistan and Rs 1.1 billion to MNAs from FATA as development funds. He said there was no fairness in distribution of funds to the members of parliament. “What message was being given by the federal government to the federating units in distribution of development funds among the Members of Parliament,” he asked. About small schemes launched during 2013 to 2015, he said of the total 3083 small schemes amounting to Rs 32.50 billion, some 2129 schemes were in Punjab. He said under the small scheme programme 492 schemes were given to Sindh, four to KPK, 88 to Balochistan, 276 to FATA while 94 schemes were initiated in Islamabad. The opposition leader addressing the chair said,”You are custodian of the House and it is your responsibility to treat all the provinces equally.” He said the smaller provinces were already complaining against the unjust distribution of development funds amongst the members and such kind of policy would damage the federation.