Rs635billion to be set aside for development
The government has increased the development budget allocation by 15% as compared to previous year’s Rs550 billion
PHOTO: REUTERS
LAHORE:
The Punjab government is set to unveil a Rs635 billion development budget for the year 2017-18 in the provincial assembly on Friday (today).
Punjab Minister for Finance Dr Aisha Ghaus will present the budget.
According to official data available with The Express Tribune, in the development budget for upcoming fiscal year, Rs452 billion have been allocated for Annual Development Programme (ADP), Rs93 billion for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, and Rs90 billion and other development schemes that will likely to be announced close to general elections next year.
After Rs172 billion for on-going development schemes, data revealed that the highest sum of Rs93 billion has been allocated for the Lahore Metro Train – a project very dear to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Similarly, foreign-assisted schemes get Rs24 billion, clean drinking water projects by Punjab Saaf Pani Company gets Rs30 billion and Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme (KPRRP) gets Rs18 billion, according to the documents.
Proper tax collection improved Pakistan’s development budget: Ahsan Iqbal
Furthermore, the government has earmarked Rs15 billion for Lodhran Khanewal Highway, Rs10 billion for Multan Road Bypass and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Rs11 billion for Punjab Safe Cities projects, Rs9 billion for skills development, Rs2 billion for Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA), Rs10 billion for Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Rs2.5 billion for Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Rs1.5 billion for the health insurance programme, Rs5 billion to revamp district and tehsil headquarter hospitals, and Rs16 billion for Punjab Education Foundation (PEF).
Around Rs4.5 billion have been allocated for Chief Minister’s Laptop Scheme. Data indicated that Rs17 billion have been allocated for additional classrooms in school, Rs4 billion for reconstruction and repair of dilapidated school buildings, Rs4 billion for Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF), Rs1 billion for Lahore Knowledge Park (LKP), and Rs5 billion for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for projects being executed under the public-private-partnership model.
Approximately Rs15 billion have been set aside for local government development schemes, Rs14 billion for balance payment for completion of CMD scheme, Rs15 billion for Prime Minister’s Sustainable Development Goals programmes, and Rs10 billion each for priority programmes and special development packages.
The government has declared all above allocation as essential requirements of Rs535 billion, including Rs172 for ongoing schemes. Around Rs100 billion have also been allocated for new schemes.
Budget 2017-18: CCB proposes Rs1.3b balanced budget
The government has increased the development budget allocation by 15% as compared to previous year’s Rs550 billion ADP. Notably, records from past years show that the government always failed to release and fully utilise the allocated development budget.
In fiscal years 2013-14, the government announced an ADP of Rs290 billion but released only Rs217 billion and utilised Rs199 billion. Similarly, in 2014-15 allocation was Rs345 billion and utilisation hovered around Rs250 billion. In 2015-16, a Rs400 billion development plan was announced, but the government only spent Rs316 billion.
During the current fiscal year (2016-17), the government has announced Rs550 billion ADP but has released only Rs342 billion. Of this, Rs207 billion have been utilised for development in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2017.
The Punjab government is set to unveil a Rs635 billion development budget for the year 2017-18 in the provincial assembly on Friday (today).
Punjab Minister for Finance Dr Aisha Ghaus will present the budget.
According to official data available with The Express Tribune, in the development budget for upcoming fiscal year, Rs452 billion have been allocated for Annual Development Programme (ADP), Rs93 billion for Lahore Orange Line Metro Train, and Rs90 billion and other development schemes that will likely to be announced close to general elections next year.
After Rs172 billion for on-going development schemes, data revealed that the highest sum of Rs93 billion has been allocated for the Lahore Metro Train – a project very dear to Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
Similarly, foreign-assisted schemes get Rs24 billion, clean drinking water projects by Punjab Saaf Pani Company gets Rs30 billion and Khadim-e-Punjab Rural Roads Programme (KPRRP) gets Rs18 billion, according to the documents.
Proper tax collection improved Pakistan’s development budget: Ahsan Iqbal
Furthermore, the government has earmarked Rs15 billion for Lodhran Khanewal Highway, Rs10 billion for Multan Road Bypass and Gulshan-e-Iqbal Park, Rs11 billion for Punjab Safe Cities projects, Rs9 billion for skills development, Rs2 billion for Punjab Agriculture, Food and Drug Authority (PAFDA), Rs10 billion for Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute, Rs2.5 billion for Recep Tayyip Erdogan Hospital, Rs1.5 billion for the health insurance programme, Rs5 billion to revamp district and tehsil headquarter hospitals, and Rs16 billion for Punjab Education Foundation (PEF).
Around Rs4.5 billion have been allocated for Chief Minister’s Laptop Scheme. Data indicated that Rs17 billion have been allocated for additional classrooms in school, Rs4 billion for reconstruction and repair of dilapidated school buildings, Rs4 billion for Punjab Educational Endowment Fund (PEEF), Rs1 billion for Lahore Knowledge Park (LKP), and Rs5 billion for Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for projects being executed under the public-private-partnership model.
Approximately Rs15 billion have been set aside for local government development schemes, Rs14 billion for balance payment for completion of CMD scheme, Rs15 billion for Prime Minister’s Sustainable Development Goals programmes, and Rs10 billion each for priority programmes and special development packages.
The government has declared all above allocation as essential requirements of Rs535 billion, including Rs172 for ongoing schemes. Around Rs100 billion have also been allocated for new schemes.
Budget 2017-18: CCB proposes Rs1.3b balanced budget
The government has increased the development budget allocation by 15% as compared to previous year’s Rs550 billion ADP. Notably, records from past years show that the government always failed to release and fully utilise the allocated development budget.
In fiscal years 2013-14, the government announced an ADP of Rs290 billion but released only Rs217 billion and utilised Rs199 billion. Similarly, in 2014-15 allocation was Rs345 billion and utilisation hovered around Rs250 billion. In 2015-16, a Rs400 billion development plan was announced, but the government only spent Rs316 billion.
During the current fiscal year (2016-17), the government has announced Rs550 billion ADP but has released only Rs342 billion. Of this, Rs207 billion have been utilised for development in the province.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 2nd, 2017.