AJK budget to be tabled today

Azad Kashmir's Rs35 billion deficit budget will be presented on Friday (today) in the assembly.

The Pakistan government has deducted three billion rupees from Azad Kashmir's fund which has further aggravated the bleak financial situation in the state.

The budget includes Rs18 billion non-development expenditure fund and Rs17 billion development expenditure fund.

Other provisions being made in the budget include a 100 per cent increase in police salaries, a 50 per cent adhoc allowance for government workers and a 100 per cent increase in medical allowance.

Speaking exclusively to Express, Azad Kashmir's Cheif Minister Raja Farooq Haider said that he had asked the federal goverment for Rs17 billion for the budget. However, the government has consented to providing a fund of  Rs14 billion only.