Balochistan presents deficit budget of Rs243bn

The budget was presented amid a walkout by the opposition.

QUETTA: Balochistan budget for the next financial year with a total outlay of Rs243.528 billion was presented in the provincial assembly in Quetta on Wednesday, Radio Pakistan reported.

Presenting the budget, Adviser to the Chief Minister Balochistan on Finance Mir Khalid Langove said the deficit of the budget was estimated at Rs26 billion.

In the budget, he said, Rs189 billion had been allocated for non-development expenditures whereas Rs54 billion had been earmarked for development projects.

Over Rs2 billion have been allocated for the education sector. More than Rs6 billion for agriculture.

Revenue expenditure was estimated Rs168.549 billion, with capital expenditure estimated at Rs20.474 billion.

However, the violence plagued province had allocated just over Rs2.7 billion for the law and order.

Compensation amount to the heirs of martyred personnel of security forces and other government employees was also increased from Rs2 million to Rs4 million up to a maximum of Rs50 million.

Read: Leaked figures: Rs225 billion Balochistan budget due on June 18

Detailing efforts to boost employment, the adviser said that about 1,741 new posts would be created in the education sector, while Rs1.11 billion had been allocated for generation of commerce and industries in the province.

“The provincial government has decided to increase salaries and pensions of government employees by 7.5 per cent,” he said.

Langove added that Rs14.33 billion would be spent in the energy sector.

Meanwhile, construction of an international airport in Gwadar with help of the federal government was also announced.

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

Further, the allowance for PhD scholars was increased from Rs7,000 to Rs10,000 while MPhil allowance was increase from Rs750 to Rs5,000.

Balochistan followed the footprints of federal government by increasing the salary and pension of state-employees by 7.5 per cent.

The government also put a complete ban on buying luxurious vehicles. “To control the unnecessary expenditures, government has introduced a computerised system,” he said.

For investigating the unnecessary expenditures, a Public Procurement Regulatory Authority has been established.

 

The budget session was boycotted by the opposition, prompting debate on the subject to be adjourned till June 20. Earlier, the provincial cabinet approved the budget proposals for the fiscal year 2015-16.