Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said on Monday that the provincial government plans to present a `citizen budget' for 2021-22. He added that all stakeholders, including industrialists, traders and agriculturists, were being consulted.
"We would incorporate all your good suggestions in the next budget and it would reflect citizens participation," he assured, presiding over a consultative meeting with the stakeholders at the Chief Minister's House.
The chief minister told the participants that the provincial government had anticipated receiving Rs967.5 billion during the current financial year and that Sindh would receive Rs228 billion from its own resources.
The CM continued that the total budget was Rs1.19 trillion and 19 percent of the amount was spent on the development sector.
Murad said that out of the 81 percent non-development budget, education was given 20 percent, finance and health 14, each, home (law and order and justice) 12 percent, local government nine percent, irrigation three percent and 23 percent for other departments.
He added that 43 percent of the budget was used for salaries, 42 percent for operational expenses and 15 percent for pensions.
Shah said that the Sindh government was issuing grants to leading hospitals and educational institutions.
Industrialists of Karachi told the chief minister that there was a water shortage in almost all the industrial areas.
To this, Murad replied that a combined treatment plant would be established with the support of the World Bank and work would be started next year.
"This treated water would be used for industrial purposes," he said.
The industrialists demanded the construction of the Mehran Highway to resolve their traffic congestion issues.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 4th, 2021.
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