LAHORE (Staff Report) – Provincial Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has presented Rs1.69 trillion budget outlay for Punjab in the Fiscal Year 2016-17 today (Monday).
The budget was presented in Punjab Assembly session on 4:30pm, with Speaker Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan in the chair.
Related: PTI minister presents Rs505 billion KPK budget for FY 2016-17
According to the minister, the provincial government will not impose any additional tax in the new budget.
Moreover, a total of Rs280 billion will be generated from province’s own revenues which include Rs184.40 billion in tax revenue and Rs95.61 billion in non-tax revenue.
Dr. Ayesha Ghous said that out of Rs550 billion allocated for the annual development programme, Rs168.87 billion have been proposed for vital social sectors which include education, health, water supply and sanitation, women development and social security.
She mentioned that the development budget for social sector consisted of 31 per cent of the total ADP.
The finance minister was quick to highlight that this year’s development programme of Rs550 billion was 37.5 per cent higher than the Rs400 billion ADP of current financial year ending June 30, 2016.
She expressed the hope that huge allocation for the ADP would result in creation of 500,000 new employment opportunities due to initiation of developmental programmes.
Education
About Rs256 billion have been proposed for education sector, where school education will be given Rs22.62 billion, higher education Rs13.49 billion, literacy and non-basic formal education Rs2.16 billion and special education Rs900 million.
An amount of Rs4b has been allocated for 400,000 laptops.
One billion rupees have been allocated for Special Education in Punjab.
Punjab Educational Foundation will receive Rs12 billion in the next financial year.
Development Projects
Over Rs640 billion development projects have been included in the budget, out of which social sector development will get Rs175 billion, local infrastructure development Rs300 billion, services sector development Rs48 billion, Chief Minister Special Initiatives Rs55 billion and transport sector development Rs33 billion.
Agriculture
In the agriculture sector, Rs50 billion have been allocated for a special Kissan Package, while special loan schemes and subsidized rates for solar-powered tube-wells will also be included for the next financial year.
Rs 40 billion have been allocated for irrigation.
Health
The total budget for Punjab health has been fixed at Rs71.6 billion. Funds of Rs26.191 billion have been proposed for the Health Department, however some additional projects for health sector are also part of the budget.
A totoal of Rs5.20 billion has been allocated for hospitals upgrade.
Clean Drinking Water
Rs30 billion have been allocated for the Chief Minister Saaf Paani Scheme.
Development Projects
Over Rs640 billion development projects have been included in the budget, out of which social sector development will get Rs175 billion, local infrastructure development Rs300 billion, services sector development Rs48 billion, Chief Minister Special Initiatives Rs55 billion and transport sector development Rs33 billion.
Rs27 billion will be spent on roads in rural areas.
Transport
A sum of Rs32.2 billion will be spent on transport sector in next fiscal year.
Orange Line
The Punjab government will get Rs100 billion loan from Chinese Exim Bank for the construction of Orange Line Metro Train project which will be utilised during the next fiscal year for timely completion of flagship project of the PML-N before the next general election.
Police and law enforcement
The Police department will receive Rs13 billion in next year.
Environment
Rs580 million have been allocated for environment.
Forests & Wildlife
One billion rupees have been allocated for forests, while Rs800 million will be spent on wildlife.
Toursim
Rs1 billion has been fixed for Punjab tourism.
Livestock
Rs4.63 billion has been allocated for the development of Livestock sector.
Energy Sector
A total of Rs18.4 billion has been allocated for Energy projects in the province.
Public Sector Development
Projects related to water supply and sanitation will get Rs14.95 billion while sports Rs2,875 billion, local government and community development Rs4.439 billion, public buildings Rs10.511 billion, urban development Rs16.866 billion and special programme Rs30 billion.
Increase in Salaries
In the annual Punjab budget, 10% increment in salaries and pensions of government employees has been announced, and proposal of Rs1,000 increase in minimum monthly wage of laborers is also part of the budget for next fiscal year.
Other Funds
The proposed allocation for Sports is Rs2.875 billion; Industries, Rs 3.83 billion; Social Welfare, Rs610 million; Women Development, Rs575 million; Local Government and Community Development, Rs4.439 billion; Public buildings, Rs10.511 billion, Urban Development, Rs16.866 billion; Cooperatives, Rs115 million; Fisheries, Rs690 million; Food, Rs834 million; Mines and Minerals, Rs518 million; Governance and IT, Rs9.821 billion; Labor and HR development, Rs702 million; Emergency services, Rs2.185 billion; Information and Culture, Rs414 million; Archaeology, Rs460 million; Auqaf and Religious Affairs, Rs115 million; Human Rights, Rs575 million; and Planning and Development, Rs7.222 billion.
The province of Punjab will receive Rs1039 billion from the federal government under NFC Award.
