QUETTA: The Balochistan assembly on Monday presented budget with a total outlay of Rs352.3 billion for fiscal year 2018-19. Advisor to the Chief Minister on Financial Affairs Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi presented the budget. The budget was formally approved by Balochistan Cabinet.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, who presided over the meeting, said the government was trying to provide maximum relief to people by allocating sufficient funds to the education and health sectors.
Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi In her budget speech said that deficit of more than Rs61.7 billion has been shown in the budget adding that the province would meet the deficit from its own resources. “Rs27.9 billion have been allocated in the budget for over a 1,231 ongoing developmental projects included in the Public Sector Developmental Programmes (PSDP)” She added.
Similarly, 1,432 new schemes have been included in the PSDP and for this purpose; 67.1 billion rupees have been allocated. She said that Rs264.04 billion have been allocated for non-developmental expenditures while Rs88.3 billion have been earmarked for developmental expenditures.
She said that for improving law and order situation in the province, Rs34 billion have been allocated in the budget for this purpose. She said that Rs19.4 billion have been allocated for promotion of health sector, Rs43.9 billion for education and Rs8.7 billion for agriculture sector.
She said Rs877 million will be spent on subsidy on wheat and an amount of 4 billion rupees has been allocated for promotion of livestock and dairy products in Balochistan. She said that more than 8,000 job opportunities would be created for educated youth during new financial year.
She announced that 10 percent increase has been made in salaries and pensions of provincial government servants in the next fiscal year.
Earlier, the budget was formally approved by Balochistan Cabinet.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, who presided over the meeting, said the government was trying to provide maximum relief to people by allocating sufficient funds to the education and health sectors.
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Published in The Balochistan Point on May 15, 2018