The Balochistan Assembly on Monday presented province''s budget for fiscal year 2018-19 with a total outlay of Rs 352.3 billion, Radio Pakistan reported. Advisor to the Chief Minister on Financial Affairs Ruqayya Saeed Hashmi presented the budget. In her budget speech, she said that a deficit of over Rs 61.7 billion has been shown in the budget. She said the province would meet the deficit through its own resources.
She added that Rs 27.9 billion has been allocated for over 1,231 ongoing developmental projects included in the Public Sector Developmental Programmes (PSDP). Similarly, 1,432 new schemes have been included in the PSDP and for this purpose, 67.1 billion rupees has been allocated. She said that Rs 264.04 billion has been allocated for non-developmental expenditures while Rs 88.3 billion has been earmarked for developmental expenditures.
She said the government is trying its level best to improve law and order situation in the province and to provide modern facilities to law enforcement personnel. For this purpose, Rs 34 billion has been allocated in the budget. She added that Rs 19.4 billion has been allocated for promotion of health sector, Rs 43.9 billion for education and Rs 8.7 billion for agriculture sector. She said Rs 877 million will be spent on wheat subsidy.
Rukiya further said that livestock and dairy products are the main source of livelihood of farmers in rural areas. Therefore, an amount of 4 billion rupees has been allocated for promotion of this sector. She further said that the government is trying to provide job opportunities in the province and for this purpose, more than 8,000 new job opportunities would be created. She announced that 10 percent increase has been made in salaries and pensions of provincial government servants in the next fiscal year.
Earlier, the budget was formally approved by Balochistan Cabinet. The meeting approved the sale of wheat stock available with the food department under open market policy. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo, who presided over the meeting, said the government was trying to provide maximum relief to people by allocating sufficient funds to the education and health sectors.