Balochistan expected to present Rs225bn budget: official

Government expected to allocate Rs50 billion for development, while the non-development budget is around Rs75 billion

QUETTA: Balochistan is expected to present a budget of Rs225 billion, a senior official of Balochistan government told The Express Tribune.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Finance Mir Khalid Langov is expected to unveil the budget in the Balochistan Assembly on Thursday, June 18.

“The budget’s total outlay would be Rs225 billion; Rs10 billion more than the amount allocated in the last fiscal year,” the senior government official said. “Priority would be accorded to health and education whereas a huge amount will be allocated for maintaining law and order situation in the province.”

Responding to a question, Langov said a number of members of Balochistan Assembly were unhappy with the budget since the bureaucracy had tried to minimise budget for schemes in their constituencies.

Read: Balochistan Assembly: MPAs demand 2% increase in education budget

“MPAs are unhappy,” he said. “They are trying their best to put pressure to get maximum allocation, but have so far failed.”

According to sources, about Rs50 billion have been allocated for development, while the non-development budget is around Rs75 billion. Further, the government has allocated Rs2 billion for the government to buy a helicopter. A proposal has also been made for the expanding the taxes in the province.

Balochistan is also expected to follow the federal government in raising salaries by 7.5%. Meanwhile, a source said, a huge amount had been allocated for the livestock and agriculture.

The provincial chief minister had already announced that his government would allocate a significant amount for a date processing plant, fisheries and for the cultural sector.

An allocation would also be made for energy sector as the province is facing a serious power crisis.