Pakistan

Rs863m go to presidency, PM secretariat gets Rs881m

Rs1 million have been allocated under the discretionary grant for the premier’s as well as the president’s office

Sardar Sikander June 04, 2016

Prime Minister’s Secretariat. PHOTO: APP

ISLAMABAD: The annual budgetary allocations for the Presidency and the Prime Minister’s Secretariat have been fixed at Rs863 million and Rs881 million, respectively, showing an upward movement of 7.8% and 4.7% for fiscal year 2016-17.

According to the budget document, Rs881.5 million have been allocated for the PM Secretariat against the original Rs842 million of the outgoing financial year, which was later revised to Rs859.8 million, implying an upward revision of 4.7% in the new budget against the current fiscal year’s original budget.

11% hike in defence budget maintained

Noticeably, the annual budget for the PM House was not specified separately while Rs286.7 million have been set aside under ‘staff and household’ and ‘wages of household servants’ heads. Additionally, Rs4 million have been allocated for ‘presents and charities’ in the new fiscal year, against Rs2.5 million set aside in the outgoing financial year. Rs750,000 have been allocated for the employees retirement benefits while Rs2.8 million are specified under the head of PM’s tour expenses (domestic). The PM secretariat’s budget in the fiscal year 2014-15 was Rs779 million.

Allocated at Rs 863.48 million, the Presidency’s annual budget for upcoming financial year shows an increase of nearly 8 percent (7.8 per cent exactly) against Rs801 million originally earmarked in the outgoing financial year, revised at Rs918 million. In the new budget, Rs10 million have been set aside for the president’s salary and Rs1.2 million for presents and charities.

SC non-development budget up 31 per cent

Like PM house, the president house’s budget has not been specified in the upcoming financial year’s budgetary allocations but Rs192 million have been allocated for president’s ‘household and staff’ and a separate amount of Rs80 million is allocated for the ‘wages of household servants’. As many as Rs13 million have been earmarked for the president’s tours and transportation. The presidency’s annual budget in the financial year 2014-15 was Rs743 million.

Contrary to repeated statements made by government functionaries claiming to abolish the PM’s discretionary fund, Rs1 million have been allocated under the discretionary grant for the premier’s as well as the president’s office.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2016.

COMMENTS (10)

salman | 8 years ago | Reply That's almost a $ 1 billion for each on one the use useless crooks especially of Mr President and than we criticize $ 8.6 billion entire defense budget.

Eysed | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad yes you are right mian SAHAB does not take salary he takes blood of poor nation .Panama leak is an open ledger or hilariously. you seems to be on payroll of Marium nawaz.every body knows how tax payers money are allocated .

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IK | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: You seem to have studied the budget in detail, please enlighten some of the benefit of spending approximately a billion rupees to general public.

Atif | 8 years ago | Reply I am sure 200 million of the presidency's share would go into 'spirits' or something of that nature

Atif | 8 years ago | Reply When a King of yesteryear would survive an ordeal, there would be merriment and festivities throughout the kingdom. The king should spare a few hundred million and revive this lost tradition

Ishrat Salim | 8 years ago | Reply @Ch. Allah Daad: A poor country like ours does not need a presidency or expenses that does not justify contribution in nation's prosperity. Even then we have to learn to spend with austerity. Can a country like ours afford this kind of expense ?

Parvez | 8 years ago | Reply ......and the people get the debt incurred to keep our leaders in unnecessary luxury.

Ch. Allah Daad | 8 years ago | Reply Highlighting these expenses without details is yellow journalism. Everyone knows that Mian Sahib does not receive any salary and bears most of the expenses from his own pocket. The huge portion of the said amounts are salaries of hundreds of government officials and other miscellaneous expenses.

Rex Minor | 8 years ago | Reply Allocated at Rs 863.48 million, the Presidency’s annual budget for upcoming financial year shows an increase of nearly 8 percent (7.8 per cent exactly) against Rs801 million originally earmarked in the outgoing financial year, revised at Rs918 million. In the new budget, Rs10 million have been set aside for the president’s salary and Rs1.2 million for presents and charities. Close down the function of powerless President and the country has additional funds for education, follow through this exercise on all items in the budget including in the house of military and the country could elevate its Universities and Government Hospitals to elite standard providing tangible savings in people travelling abroad for education and medical treatments. Rex Minor

Ishrat Salim | 8 years ago | Reply Where is the austerity ? This country need Presidential system, will save money and overlapping of duties n responsibilities

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