Punjab CM reviews upcoming budget, annual development program

LAHORE (92 News) – While chairing a special session, Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar on Thursday reviewed upcoming budget and annual development program for fiscal year 2020-21. The session was held at the Chief Minister’s Office. During the session, CM Buzdar has directed the provincial departments to cut unnecessary expenditures as novel coronavirus has created difficult circumstances. He also instructed to give priority to health and welfare sectors in the budget. “All departments need to follow strict financial discipline and promote austerity measures by controlling expenditures. Solid steps should be taken by departments themselves and subsidies being given to various sectors should be lessened,” the chief minister mentioned. “Attention should be paid to public-private partnerships for development works and a compact program should be devised to provide relief to commoners,” Usman Buzdar said. It is pertinent to mention here that the Planning and Development Board chairman gave briefing over the annual development program for 2020-21. Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Adviser Dr Salman Shah, chief secretary, finance secretary, special monitoring unit chief and others attended the meeting.