Punjab govt presents Rs1.3 trillion budget amid uproar
Thirty-six percent of total budget has been allocated for the development of southern Punjab
Copies of the Punjab provincial budget are kept outside the Punjab assembly prior to the budget presentation on Friday. PHOTO: INP
KARACHI:
Provincial Minister for Finance, Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman presented a Rs1.3 trillion budget for Punjab on Friday for FY15, amid a prolonged and vociferous protest from the opposition benches, Express News reported.
For the total outlay of Rs1.3 trillion announced, Rs804.19 billion will be funded from the federal divisible pool and Rs228.87 from provincial receipts.
The Punjab government has set its target of tax revenue collection at Rs167.7 billion.
According to budget documents, 36% of the total budget of the province has been allocated for the development of southern Punjab.
The main focus of the budget is on welfare schemes, power plants and education.
The minister announced that Rs273 billion have been allocated for education, while Rs121.8 billion have been allocated for health.
While stating that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has already inaugurated 19 power plants, Rehman said that eliminating load-shedding is the government's priority.
Rehman announced that Rs2 billion will be spent on a biomass plant in Bahawalpur, while Rs17 billion have been budgeted for the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park project.
An amount of Rs5 billion wasannounced for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's laptop scheme. The provincial minister also announced a 16% increase from last year's budget for the police.
In his budget speech, Rehman also stated that laws will be imposed for employment opportunities.
Provincial Minister for Finance, Excise and Taxation Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman presented a Rs1.3 trillion budget for Punjab on Friday for FY15, amid a prolonged and vociferous protest from the opposition benches, Express News reported.
For the total outlay of Rs1.3 trillion announced, Rs804.19 billion will be funded from the federal divisible pool and Rs228.87 from provincial receipts.
The Punjab government has set its target of tax revenue collection at Rs167.7 billion.
According to budget documents, 36% of the total budget of the province has been allocated for the development of southern Punjab.
The main focus of the budget is on welfare schemes, power plants and education.
The minister announced that Rs273 billion have been allocated for education, while Rs121.8 billion have been allocated for health.
While stating that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government has already inaugurated 19 power plants, Rehman said that eliminating load-shedding is the government's priority.
Rehman announced that Rs2 billion will be spent on a biomass plant in Bahawalpur, while Rs17 billion have been budgeted for the Quaid-e-Azam Solar Park project.
An amount of Rs5 billion wasannounced for Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's laptop scheme. The provincial minister also announced a 16% increase from last year's budget for the police.
In his budget speech, Rehman also stated that laws will be imposed for employment opportunities.