Lahore : Punjab Budget for the next financial year 2012-13 with total outlay of over Rs 782.8 billion was on Saturday afternoon presented in the Provincial Assembly by Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja ur Rehman. He announced 20 per cent increase in salaries and pensions of Provincial government employees from July 1, 2012.
In his budget speech Minister said record amount of Rs 250 billion have been proposed for development and Rs 780 as annual revenue receipts. He said 5.0 per cent further cut has been proposed in salaries of Punjab Cabinet members and petrol provided to them has been reduced to half. “Aim of these measures under Punjab Government’s austerity policy is to provide more resources for public welfare projects.”
He said Punjab Government has allocated Rs 10 billion to overcome energy crisis in the province. He said that private sector will be encouraged to initiate new power projects.
Mian Mujtaba said power generating projects will be setup on canals system of the province with financial assistance of Asian Development Bank. An agreement has been signed with a Chinese Company to setup 108MW power plant at Kot Addu project.
He said out of Rs 250 billion proposed allocated for development budget, Rs 86.46 billion will be for social sector Rs 62.90 billion for infrastructure development Rs 35.50 billion for special programs Rs 14 billion for various projects for the welfare of women, Rs 11.10 billion for services, Rs 8.61 billion for production sector, Rs 5.42 billion for human rights evacuee trust environment culture, Rs 40 billion for various development projects and Rs 320 million for the welfare of minorities.
He said health sector receive total budget of Rs 84 billion. Four new medical colleges will be established at Sahiwal Sialkot Gujranwala and DG Khan at cost of Rs 3.27 billion.
Finance Minister said a total of 10,000 new recruitments would be made in Police to further improve their performance. Rs 2 billion will be spent to purchase close circuit cameras to ensure better surveillance.
Under green tractor scheme of agriculture sector, Rs 2 billion have been proposed for the provision of 20,000 tractors at subsidized rate.
He said Rs 500 million have been earmarked for improving the working of courts and Rs 1 billion spent to set up additional courts in the province.
Meanwhile opposition MPAs this afternoon protested outside Punjab Assembly building against what they called as “bad governance of the Provincial government.”
