Balochistan to have deficit budget

Balochistan budget for 2004-05, to be presented in the provincial assembly between June 15 and June 20, would be a deficit budget with top most priority on education, communication and health.
The Provincial Finance Minister, Ehsan Shah, told a group of newsmen here on Wednesday that Balochistan government has asked the federal government for 100 percent increase in the absence of general consensus on the Sixth NFC Award so that the process of democracy and development could go on well during the new fiscal year.
He reiterated Balochistan's demand for the distribution of divisible pool on the basis of backwardness, poverty, territory and population.
Ehsan Shah said that Balochistan has also asked for substantial increase in gas development surcharge and royalty on gas from the federal government under divisible pool during FY 2004-05.