Balochistan presents Rs 243b budget amid opposition’s boycott; Rs 3b allocated for Gwadar Port

QUETTA (92 News) – Adviser to Balochistan CM on Finance Mir Khalid Khan Langove presented the Rs 243 billion budget for the next financial year 2015-15 amid the boycott of the opposition, allocating Rs 54 billion for development projects. Presenting the budget, he said that said the budget deficit is estimated at Rs 26 billion. “A sum of Rs 189 billion has been allocated for non-development expenditures, while Rs three billion will be spent on the Gwadar Port,” he said. The adviser said that about Rs 2.51 billion, 18.3 percent of the development budget, has been allocated for education, while seven percent has been earmarked for the health sector. “1,741 new posts will be created in the education sector.” He said that over Rs six billion has been allocated for agriculture and over Rs 2.7 billion for law and order. He also announced a 7.5 percent increase in salaries and pensions of government employees. The adviser said that Rs 14.33 billion will be spent on energy sector and over Rs 1.11 billion on commerce and industries. “About 5,000 vacancies will be created in the new budget.” He announced that the PhD allowance has been increased from Rs 7,000 to Rs 10,000, while the M Phil allowance has been increased to Rs 5,000. Khalid Khan said that Rs 1.3 billion would distributed among the families of those affected by terrorism. “Moreover, compensation amount to the heirs of martyred personnel of forces and other government employees has also been increased from Rs two million to four million, and maximum up to Rs 50 million,” he added.