Budget to come up to people’s expectations: Punjab CM

The chief minister ordered an inquiry into a factory workers’ death in Manga Mandi area

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said the first budget of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government would truly depict the vision of a new Pakistan and the people would be given relief within the available resources.

Presiding over a budget review meeting on Thursday, Buzdar said it was imperative to increase provincial resources to ensure the provision of several basic facilities to the masses. “It will help in increasing investment and address public problems,” he said.

“The development of backward and underprivileged will be given preference in the Annual Development Programme (ADP) and the government will take measures to cut unnecessary expenditures,” the chief minister underlined.

“Our first budget should be in accordance with the aspirations of the people. Suitable steps should be proposed to increase provincial resources and provide relief to the people,” he directed officials concerned.

Talking about the Punjab Workers’ Welfare Board (PWWB) issue, the chief minister said matters related to the board would be settled soon. Approval of its draft act and other matters should be settled at the earliest. Targets should be fixed and all efforts would be made to increase the resources.

Senior minister Abdul Aleem Khan said out-of-the-box solutions should also be considered for moving forward and innovative steps should be taken for providing facilities to investors. “We have to increase resources, along with decreasing the expenditures, and work will have to be done on a war-footing to promote investment,” he stressed.

Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht informed the meeting participants that consultations have been held with different government departments about their budgets and ADP requirements. “Steps are being taken to decrease unnecessary expenditures,” he added.

The meeting took a detailed review of the provincial budget for the remaining eight months and annual development programme of the current fiscal year. Provincial ministers Malik Muhammad Anwar, Hafiz Mumtaz Ahmed, Punjab chief secretary, senior member Board of Revenue, Planning and Development Department (P&D) chairman and secretaries concerned attended the meeting.

Meanwhile, the chief minister took notice of factory workers’ death in Manga Mandi area. He ordered an investigation and sought a report from Punjab Labour Secretary and local administration. He also ordered authorities to initiate legal action against people responsible for factory workers death after identification. He also issued directions to ensure best healthcare facilities to the affected labours and expressed his heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the bereaved family members.