In the Punjab Budget 2019-20, the Punjab government has defined its priorities which are equal development across Punjab, social protection and human resource development, said Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakhat here on Saturday. While addressing a post-budget press conference, the Minister averred that their budget was based on the Punjab Growth Strategy 2018-23 in order to put the province in a right direction for the next five years.
"In the prevailing economic conditions in the country, we in the budget ensured that relief is given to poor section of the society and thus 41 percent of the allocations were given to the social sector," he added. He also claimed that they have endeavoured to make a result-oriented budget that will ensure a bright future for the people of Punjab instead of juggling with the figures. "The budget focuses on education, health and welfare of the people. For economic growth and stimulation, we have entertained industrial sector in the budget while we have taken decisions to trigger a growth in agriculture sector by improving productivity. Moreover, we have also ensured development of infrastructure on public-private-partnership (PPP) basis," he added.
The Minister elaborated on the regional equalization which, he said, was the key highlight of the new budget. He said they had earmarked 35 percent of the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the districts of southern Punjab which will over the years bring them at par with other developed areas of the province. "The government will ensure that the money is spent on the development of the south Punjab and it will not transgress on its commitment by reallocating these funds to other regions or projects," he added.
"Similarly, in the budget southern districts will receive more share in sector-wise allocations; in school education they will receive 53 percent, sports 40 percent, health 39 percent, roads infrastructures 41 percent, agriculture 48 percent, livestock 76 percent and resource development 60 percent. Moreover, nine new hospitals will be constructed in deprived districts of in south Punjab, including Layyah, Mianwali, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, D G Khan, Multan and Rajanpur," he said.
Justifying the visible allocation for the southern part of the province, he said that an area comprising 32 percent of the Punjab population had been receiving on average 17 percent of developmental funds in the last seven years. "This had weakened economic health of this part of the province and ultimately increased poverty in the region," he added.
To a question relating to taxation proposed in the budget, he dispelled the impression that the new taxation measures will add extra financial burden on the common man; "On the contrary, a relief has been given to disable persons, divorcées and orphans by extending property tax exemption to them as well. Moreover, 16 percent sales tax imposed on parlour saloons last year has been reduced to five percent. No additional new tax has been proposed for the next fiscal year".
On agriculture tax, he said that a majority of farmers hold less than 12.5 acres of land and hence they have proposed in the budget to reduce fixed amount of tax on their income from Rs 150,000 to Rs 3000 per annum.
To another question, the Minister said that education sector would receive Rs 39.3 billion from the ADP, adding that innovative measures were taken by using the existing resources and infrastructure, which would help in boosting literacy rate in the province.
He also said the government adopted a strategy that would end the problem of price-hike. On the occasion, Social Protection Authority Chairman Ali Asjad Malhi gave a detail briefing about the measure taken in the budget for the social welfare of the people and in particular he talked about the 'Ehsaas' programme.
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