‘Budget focused on ongoing projects’

LAHORE: Finance Minister Ayesha Ghaus Pasha on Thursday said the government had fulfilled its promise to provide relief to the masses in the budget.

“The government has presented a people-friendly budget.” she said.

The minister said a large focus of the budget had been on completion of development projects.

“We hope to create thousands of jobs, encourage private investment, curb terrorism and enhance security of citizens,” she said.

She said provision of quality education, health facilities and safe drinking water were top priorities.

“We have put no new burden on the common man in the budget. Uplift of urban infrastructure has also been prioritised,” she said.

Pasha said the measures outline in the budget would result in poverty alleviation and improve living standards of the masses.

“Instead of announcing new schemes, the government focused on ongoing projects so that these are completed at the earliest,” she said.

“The government has also taken historic steps to address grievances of farmers,” she said. “Soon, they will see the effects of such efforts. Billions will be spent on subsidising fertilisers, agriculture implements, seeds and tube wells,” she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2016.