Punjab unveils Rs 1.44tr budget for FY2015-16 amid rumpus by opposition

LAHORE (92 News) – Punjab Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha unveiled the Rs 1.4472 trillion budget amid rumpus by the opposition. The government has imposed 16 percent Sales Tax on all services, including 10 new ones. Clinics, beauty parlour, abroad education, visa processing and goods transport have been brought into the tax net. Presenting the budget in the Provincial Assembly on Friday, she said that Rs 400 billion has been allocated for the Annual Development Programme. She said that an amount of Rs 310.2 billion has been allocated for education, which is 27 percent of the budget. “Four more Danish schools will be constructed, while new universities will be established in Jhang and Sahiwal,” she added. The minister said that Rs 166.13 billion has been earmarked for the health sector. “More 8,400 posts will be created in hospitals.” She said that Rs 144 billion has been allocated for uplift in rural areas and agriculture. Dr Pasha said that 25,000 tractors will be given to farmers and as many vehicles will be given to unemployed youths. “A subsidy of Rs five billion will be given to farmers.” She said that Rs eight billion has been allocated for livestock, while Rs 20.10 billion will be spent on women’s development. “A sum of Rs 110b has been earmarked for maintaining law and order. Rs 21b has been allocated for irrigation, while Rs 70b will be given for clean drinking water in the next three years,” she said. The minister said that the salaries of the government employees and pensions have been increased by 7.5 per cent. She said that Punjab will get an amount of Rs 888.5 billion from the federal government under the NFC Award. Dr Pasha disclosed that an amount of Rs 256 billion is expected from provincial revenues. She said that Rs 26 billion will be spent on Multan Metro Bus project, while Rs 44 billion have been spent on Rawalpindi-Islamabad Metro Bus. “Rs 18 billion has been earmarked for the judiciary,” she said. She announced that the government would provide jobs to one million youths by 2018. She said various energy projects are underway at a cost of Rs 618 billion to overcome the power crisis. Earlier, the Punjab Cabinet approved the budget proposals during a meeting, which was presided over by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif.