Syed Ali Shah, Manan Mandokhail:
QUETTA:
Amid differences and delays, the Balochistan government presented a deficit budget with a total outlay of Rs. 750 in the provincial assembly on Monday evening. The government’s income is estimated at Rs.701 billion and the deficit is Rs.49 billions.
Presenting the budget in the house amid an uneasy calm although no protest, Balochistan Finance Minister, Zamarak Khan Achakzai announced that the government has also increased the salaries of government employees from grade-1 to 16 by 35 percent. “Government has increased the salaries despite financial crisis”, Mr. Achakzai told the house in his budget speech. The salaries of government officers from grade-17 to 22 increased by 30 percent.
Employees salaries from grade-1 to 16 increased by 35 percent
The pension has also been increased by 17.5 percent in Balochistan, the finance minister mentioned.
Unlike past, the budget speech was not interrupted by lawmakers from the opposition. “This is good budget and all schemes included”, Hamal Kalmati, a lawmaker from Balochistan National Party (BNP) told reporters.
Rs.437 billions allocated for non-development expenditures
As always this year the volume of non-development expenditures also increased. “The outlay of the non-development budget is Rs.437 billions”, the finance minister informed.
Zamarak Achakzai stated that Rs.229. 301 billions were allocated for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in Balochistan. He mentioned that RS. 170.724 were allocated for 4,721 ongoing projects and Rs.58.667bs were allocated for 5068 new development schemes in Balochistan.
4,389 vacancies created in the budget
The finance minister informed that 4,389 vacancies were created in the budget to reduce the ratio of unemployment in the province. He said most of the vacancies were created in the education and health sectors.
The finance minister said the government allocated Rs.55 for launching the health card/health insurance scheme in Balochistan to support all deserving and needy families.
Rs.2 billions allocated for scholarships of students
He said Rs.2 billions were allocated for the scholarship of students to support needy and deserving students. The minister informed that priority was given to the education department and over Rs.77 billions were allocated for primary, high and secondary schools department.
He said similarly Rs.65 billions were allocated for the health department to improve health services in the province.
