Lahore: The caretaker Punjab government has called a cabinet meeting on Monday (today) to approve the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2023-24, which is estimated to be Rs 1368 billion.
After the approval of the cabinet, the ministers of the caretaker government will announce the budget in a press conference.
According to the official budget documents, the caretaker government has allocated Rs 426.87 billion for ongoing development schemes which were approved by the previous Punjab Assembly while Rs 941.34 billion have been set aside for current expenditure.
The supervisory setup is also going to increase the salaries and pensions in the province. Percentage increase.
A total of Rs 413 billion is proposed to be allocated for salaries and pensions of government employees and other expenses. The increase in salaries and pensions of government employees will put an additional burden of 42 billion rupees on the provincial exchequer. According to the budget documents, the Punjab government owes Rs 565 billion to various banks while Rs 32 billion will be paid as mark-up payment in FY 2023-24.
The caretaker government has formed a Joint Priorities Committee (JPC), which was tasked with budgeting for four months along with estimates for the entire financial year. The JPC has already given its approval to the proposed budget accordingly.
The JPC has allocated Rs 69.8 billion for the ongoing development schemes of higher education, Rs 4.64 billion for literacy and non-formal education, Rs 64.84 billion for primary and secondary health care, Rs 58.21 billion for school education, Rs 32 proposed. 18 billion rupees for industry, trade and commerce, 11.44 billion rupees for youth affairs and sports, 4.82 billion rupees for tourism and archeology, 8.81 billion rupees for environmental protection projects, 3.41 billion rupees for information and culture. , 62.69 Rs. 2.3 billion rupees for irrigation, 24.26 billion rupees for labor and human resources, 12.69 billion rupees for livestock and dairy development, 12.69 billion rupees for welfare of population, 5.47 billion rupees for social welfare and treasury, special 1.85 billion rupees. 29.35 billion rupees for education, transport, 10.6 billion rupees for energy development projects and 2.9 billion rupees for women development.
JPC allocated Rs 8.5 billion for urban development and Rs 3 billion for law and order and parliamentary affairs, Rs 2.64 billion for local government and rural development, Rs 5 billion for planning and development, Rs 3.95 billion for provincial assembly. Proposed allocation of Rs. And 19 billion rupees for Board of Revenue, 50 billion rupees for S&GAD and 420 million rupees for Zakat, 3 billion rupees for prosecution and 161 billion rupees for health department.
The JPC proposed allocation of Rs 161 billion for police, Rs 40 billion for agriculture and Rs 11 billion for rescue 1122.
Additionally, it has been proposed to allocate Rs 860 million for the Chief Minister House and Rs 140 million for the Chief Minister Inspection Team. Similarly, it is proposed to allocate 630 million rupees for the expenses of the Governor’s Secretariat.
Meanwhile, Finance Department officials said on Sunday that the Balochistan government will present the budget for the financial year 2023-24 on Monday (today).
Earlier, the Balochistan government had postponed the presentation of the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2023, the budget was to be presented in the provincial assembly on June 16, 2023.
Sources in the finance department said the budget announcement date was extended as MPAs and ministers from different political parties proposed new development schemes in the budget.
