K-P unveils Rs2.9b second quarterly budget
State Minister for Finance Col (retd) Waqar Ahmad Noor says the total estimated non-development expenditure for the next financial year is Rs190.047 billion. PHOTO: FILE
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa government has allocated Rs2.9 billion in the second quarterly budget for the fiscal year 2023 to fund six key provincial departments.
According to the budget document, Rs563 million has been allocated for excise and taxation, including Rs428 million for salaries’ disbursement.
Similarly Rs340 million has been allocated for the Industries department including Rs202 million for payment of salaries to employees and Rs87 million non-salary budget, the document revealed.
The finance department has allocated Rs652 million for the minerals' department, out of which, Rs293 million has been earmarked for salaries and Rs308 million is reserved as non-salary budget.
It has also proposed the allocation of Rs1036.527 million for TEVTA.
The provincial government has earmarked Rs112.005 million for printing and stationery.
Under this proposed monetary bill, Rs250 million have been proposed for the labour department for payment of salaries and non-salary budget.
This continuation of quarterly budget reflects the crisis of unelected government that is bound to make important decisions temporarily for the smooth functioning of the province.
Long term monetary decision-making, like a year-long budget, goes well beyond the mandate of the current government as it lacks the legitimacy to make such decisions.
This might – as it seems – continue till an elected government holds the reigns of the province and put an end to this short-term measures.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 17th, 2023.