Punjab

Social, infrastructure uplift focused

Large part of Punjab ADP set aside for special initiatives

Imran Adnan June 14, 2024

While the budgetary measures show that the government is trying to offset the adverse effect of inflation on the poor, they do not indicate any significant remedy for the present financial malaise. Photo: file

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has unveiled its largest Annual Development Programme (ADP) to date, with a total allocation of Rs842 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25.

This budget allocations include Rs281 billion (33%) for the social sector, Rs247 billion (29%) for infrastructure development, Rs108 billion (13%) for production, Rs41 billion (5%) for services sector and Rs165 billion (20%) for special initiatives and other programmes.

According to the budget documents, key allocations from the Rs280.65 billion earmarked for the social sector include Rs42.5 billion for school, Rs17 billion for higher and Rs2 billion for special education, Rs4 billion for literacy and non-formal education, Rs7.6 billion for sports and youth affairs, Rs86 billion for specialised healthcare and medical education, Rs42.6 billion for primary and secondary healthcare, Rs3.8 billion for population welfare, Rs8 billion for water supply and sanitation, Rs4 billion for social welfare, Rs1.4 billion for women’s development and Rs61.75 billion for local government and community development.

For infrastructure development, the budget allocates Rs246 billion on including Rs143 billion for roads, Rs25.8 billion for irrigation, Rs7.5 billion for energy, Rs30 billion for public buildings and Rs40.5 billion for urban development.

The production sector will be allocated Rs107.8 billion, with Rs64.6 billion for agriculture, Rs4 billion for forestry, Rs6.4 billion for wildlife, Rs5.3 billion for fisheries, Rs400 million for food, Rs9 billion for livestock and dairy development, Rs10.7 billion for industries, commerce and investment, Rs950 million for mines and minerals, and Rs6.5 billion for tourism.

The services sector will receives Rs41 billion, including Rs20.7 billion for governance and information technology, Rs400 million for labour and human resource development, Rs18.5 billion for transport, and Rs1.4 billion for emergency services.

Other development schemes in the budget include Rs10 billion for environment and climate change, Rs2.6 billion for information and culture, Rs800 million each for archaeology and Auqaf and religious affairs, Rs4 billion for human rights and minority affairs, and Rs46 billion for planning and development.

The ADP also includes Rs101 billion for special programmes and initiatives, representing around 12% of the total development programme.