The total expenditure by the federal and provincial governments on justice and administration remained Rs 33 billion during the last fiscal year; however, the spending on construction of roads, highways and bridges was Rs 397 billion, says the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper (PRSP) released by the Ministry of Finance here on Tuesday.
According to PRSP budgetary expenditures for the last fiscal year, out of total expenditure of Rs 33 billion on justice and administration, the federal government's spending was Rs 4 billion, Punjab, Rs 14 billion, Sindh, Rs 6 billion, KPK, Rs 4 billion, and Balochistan's spending was Rs 2 billion.
Rural development also remained low priority of the federal and provincial governments as total expenditure were Rs 37 billon for the period under review with Rs 1 billion by the federal government, Rs 9 billion by Punjab, Rs 441 million by Sindh, Rs 14 billion by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and Balochistan government's spending on rural development stood at Rs 11 billion.
The federal government and provinces have utilised Rs 397 billion on construction of roads, highways and bridges with the highest expenditure by the federal government of Rs 194 billion was followed by Punjab with Rs 149 billion, Sindh, Rs 22 billion, KPK, Rs 18 billion, and Balochistan, Rs 12 billion.
A total of Rs 267 billion were spent on health with Rs 75 billion for development purpose and Rs 192 for current expenditure. The federal government's spending stood at Rs 35 billion with Rs 12 billion for current expenditure and Rs 23 billion for development, followed by Punjab with Rs 123 billion including Rs 95 billion for current expenditure and Rs 28 billion for development, Sindh with Rs 61 billion with Rs 48 billion for current expenditure and Rs 13 billion for development.
Spending by the KPK government on health was Rs 31 billion, with Rs 24 billion for current expenditure and Rs 7 billion for development and Balochistan government spent Rs 15 billion with Rs 13 billion for current expenditure and Rs 2 billion for development. Spending by federal and provincial governments on education was Rs 663 billion during the last fiscal year with the federal government, Rs 119 billion, Punjab, Rs 251 billion, Sindh, Rs 135 billion, KPK, Rs 112 billion, and Balochistan, Rs 45 billion. A total of Rs 232 billion were spent on primary education and Rs 209 billion were spent on secondary education.
A total of Rs 437 billion were spent on subsides during the last fiscal year which included Rs 218 billion by federal government, Rs 163 billion by Punjab, Rs 49 billion by Sindh, and Rs 2 billion each by KPK and Balochistan. Spending on Law and order remained Rs 306 billion with Rs 112 billion by federal government, Rs 81 billion by Punjab, Rs 58 billion by Sindh, Rs 33 billion by KPK, and Rs 21 billion by Balochistan government.
A total of Rs 3 billion have been disbursed through Baitul Mall by the federal government and total expenditure through Benazir Income Support Programme remained Rs 100 billion. Total expenditure on agriculture sector by federal and provincial government remained Rs 239 billion and on social welfare and security Rs 438 billion were spent.