Punjab government allocates Rs one trillion for current expenditure

The Punjab government has allocated Rs 1,020.8 billion for current expenditure in Rs 1,970.7 billion budget of 2017-18, showing an increase of approximately 13 percent against the revised budget estimates of Rs 899,571.309 million for FY 2016-17. Broadly, allocations in the current budget for FY 2017-18 includes 10 percent increase in pay and pension for civil employees of Government of Punjab. Provincial salary budget has been estimated Rs 257,691.538 million and expenditure on Pension is pitched at Rs 173,809.235 million.
Allocations for the Health Department have increased from Rs 70,060.007 million in FY 2016-17 to Rs 111,026.019 million in FY 2017-18 representing an increase of 58.4 percent over the budget estimates of FY 2016-17. Allocation of Rs 20,4120.600 million has been made in FY 2017-18 for provision of free medicines in public sector hospitals.
Expenditure on the Education Sector has been estimated at Rs 44,339.058 million in FY 2017-18 at provincial level while expenditure on the Education Sector at district level has been estimated at Rs 230,100.000 million.Expenditure on account of Public Order and Safety Affairs has been estimated at Rs 145,743.738 million against the budget estimate of Rs 132,439.638 million in FY 2016-17 showing an increase of 10 percent.
To ensure proper upkeep and maintenance of infrastructure, an allocations of Rs 22,567.906 million has been made for M&R of public infrastructure compared to an allocation of Rs 18,095.927 million in outgoing financial year. Allocations for pro-poor initiatives like Ramazan package, Public transport and Wheat Subsidy have been budgeted at Rs 30,404.156 million.
The allocation earmarked for Public Order and Safety Affairs for 2017-18 is Rs 145,743.738 million as compared to the revised estimate of Rs 128,344.667 million in FY 2016-17; showing a growth of approximately 14 percent. The departments include Agriculture, Food, Irrigation, Forestry & Fisheries, Fuel & Energy, Communication and Works, Wildlife & Fisheries, Industries, Livestock & Dairy Development, Mines & Mineral Department, etc. contribute to economic development. The government has allocated Rs 109,709.217 million for economic affairs in FY 2017-18 against budgetary estimate of Rs 122,505.669 million in FY 2016-17.