As the Punjab budget is set to be presented by Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha on June 13, there are strong signs pointing to a budget which promises development and increase in growth rate, public-friendly tax collection system, social welfare projects and better healthcare.
Sources told Business Recorder on Wednesday that the budget would bring about revolutionary measures to address problems faced by small farmers and to develop the agriculture sector with focus on giving relaxation in business and increase in export. "The ongoing projects will be focused so that these are completed at the earliest," the sources claimed.
There are also claims that enhanced budgetary allocations will be made to better public healthcare and welfare. "As many as 25 district and 15 tehsil headquarters hospitals will be upgraded through provision of equipment and posting of medical officers and consultants. The government will set aside funds for free medicine and dialysis facilities. The overall enhancement in the budgetary allocations for the health sector is estimated to be around 20 percent from the current fiscal year allocations," the sources added. The sources also talked about more funds in the next year budget for safe and clean drinking water and better sanitation facilities in the province.
It is understood that the Saaf Pani Initiative is the first-ever attempt by the Punjab government to improve the water quality and supply services, especially in the rural areas of the province. The Punjab Saaf Pani company is already set up as a special purpose vehicle to conceive, plan, design, execute and manage projects for provision of new water schemes.
The Punjab government has set aside up to Rs 166.13 billion for the health sector during the fiscal year 2015-16, which was 14.5 percent of the budget. Up to Rs 10.82 billion was earmarked for medicines in provincial hospitals. Last year's initiatives for the health sector included the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute in Lahore, medical colleges in Bahawalnagar, Bhakkar and Attock, the Cancer Hospital in Lahore, the Cancer Treatment Facility in Multan, children's hospitals in Gujranwala, Rawalpindi and Bahawalpur, the King Edward Medical University campus in Muridke, the Institute of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at the Children's Hospital in Lahore, the General Hospital in Faisalabad, purchase of mobile health units, provision of missing facilities and equipment in district and tehsil headquarters hospitals, and upkeep of nursing schools.
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