Punjab Finance Minister Sardar Husnain Dreshak has said to check prices of essential commodities in the province, the Agriculture Marketing Department has been assigned a task to monitor demand and supply situation, and ensure sufficient supply of essential items to meet the growing demands. He expressed these views while talking to newsmen after presenting the Punjab Budget 2005-06 at Punjab Assembly on Thursday.
Dreshak further said in order to assist farmers to counter inflation, prices of the crops has been increased, which raised their incomes. "Since 70 per cent of our population lives in rural areas, it was vital to assist them," he added.
On National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, he said President Pervez Musharraf's meeting on NFC was constructive and every province had a chance to put forth its point of views and a just solution would come. "However, the budget 2005-06 was planned under the 5th NFC Award. In the previous budget, we were expecting Rs 115 billion from the federal government in divisible pool, but since for the past few years tax collection in the Centre has improved, we got additional Rs 4 billion," he added. However, to a query he refused to comment on the 6th NFC Award's outcome and Kalabagh Dam.
According to him, the budget outlay of Rs 224 billion was the highest in the history of province, under which Rs 71 billion have been allocated for Annual Development Programme (ADP), which included Rs 10 billion for district governments and Rs eight billion for autonomous bodies. Overall, there has been a substantial increase of 45 per cent in ADP, while current expenditure of Rs 157 billion has been marginally increased, that included pay and pension announced by the Federal government, although it was a tentative figure. The exact amount was yet to be announced by the federal government.
"On the line of tax swap, pension and general provident funds would be made an off budget item and it would have independent resources, and it would be a seven year programme. Pension and general provident funds was a big liability on the Punjab government and in the coming years we would not be in a position to support pension and general provident funds," he stated.
When asked that what impact tax-free budget would have on common man, he said it would provide basics to everyone which was reflected in the ADP. He continued 34 per cent of the ADP funds has been reserved for social sector with the aim of giving quality education, health facilities and other services. He further said in the budget stress has also been laid on the development of existing infrastructure, which would provide relief to the masses. "All ongoing projects would continuously be funded till their completion, hence 80 per cent of ADP has been allocated for ongoing schemes," he maintained.