LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Kamran Michael has announced tax free provincial budget for fiscal 2011-12 with total outlay of over Rs 654 billion.
Listing the achievement of Punjab government Kamran Michael said provincial government under the dynamic leadership of Chief Minister Mian Shahbaz Sharif devoted all its energies in the rehabilitation of flood affectees and distributed a sum of Rs 12 billion among them through watan cards.
Government of Punjab evolved a comprehensive project for construction of 89 model villages and 22 out of total villages are being funded from chief minister relief fund.
PML-N leadership had taken decision not to rely on foreign aid besides shunning begging bowl, he held.
CM Punjab has started austerity drive from CM secretariat with allocating budget less by 1/4th than the revised budget estimate for the current year. All the ministers have voluntarily reduced their monthly perks and privileges by 20 percent .
Government has banned construction of new buildings and decoration of officers residences, he informed. The budget for the financial year 2011-12 is people friendly and development budget, he added.
Budget allocation for pro poor schemes has been proposed Rs 30 billion, he said adding on the eve of Christmas Christian brethren were provided flour bag of 20 kilogram at subsidized rate of Rs 400. Allocation of Rs one billion is envisaged in the budget to provide better public transport facilities to people.
PML-N had not exploited slogan of Roti, Kapra and Makkan on political basis but it has provided homes to the poor segments of society under Aashiana Housing schemes in fact, he stated.
In line with vision of PML-N Qaid Mian Nawaz Sharif comprehensive scheme titled Punjab Rozgar Scheme worth billion of rupees has been evolved under which 20000 yellow cabs will be provided to jobless educated people of the province, he told. Cabs to be provided to South Punjab would be equal to 40 percent of total cabs, he indicated.
12.5 to 25 acres agriculture land is being leased out to agriculture and veterinary graduates each in the province for 15 years, he hinted.
In pursuance of the directives of Mian Nawaz Sharif, chief minister Punjab Mian Shahbaz Sharif has revived Jinnah Abadi scheme Under this scheme 5 marla plots each are being distributed among homeless poor persons with income of Rs 6000 per month.
The Government intends to set up Danish schools in 15 districts of the province to provide education to poor students at par with Atchison college, he announced.
Scope of provision of dialysis treatment free of cost has been extended through out the province, he told. Rs 300 million are proposed to be allocated in the next budget for this purpose, he added.
General Revenue Receipts are estimated at Rs 654.67 billion while the income to be secured from divisible pool under NFC award is estimated at Rs 530.8 billion.
Work will be started on Khanki and Billo head works and Jinnah Barrage next year, he pointed out.
Government has decided to increase salaries of its employees by 15 percent, he said.
“I also announce to increase pension by 20 percent in respect of employees who were retired on or before June, 30, 2002 and 15 percent with regard to employees who were retired on or after July, 2002. I also announce to enhance conveyance allowance by 25 percent of the government employees from grade 1 to 15. Conveyance allowance will be granted throughout the province from next fiscal year”, he said. Online
