Balochistan government unveils over Rs325b outlay budget

Balochistan budget for the next fiscal year with a total outlay of over 325 billion rupees was presented on Thursday. Presenting the budget in the provincial assembly in Quetta Thursday, Adviser to Chief Minister on Financial Affairs Sardar Aslam Bezanjo said over 86 billion rupees have been allocated for developmental expenditures.

Aslam Bezanjo said over 50 billion rupees have been allocated for the education sector. He said over 21 billion rupees have been earmarked for promotion of health sector. The adviser said improvement of law and order has been given great importance and over 31 billion rupees have been allocated for the purpose. He said eight billion rupees will be spent on agriculture sector.

He said energy sector has also been given a considerable significance in the budget and over two billion rupees have been kept in the budget for conversion of water supply schemes into solar energy system. The Adviser said nearly 8000 new vacancies will be created for the jobless educated youth in the province. He said a special Balochistan Education Enabler Programme will be launched and 200 million rupees have been allocated for the purpose.

Aslam Bezanjo said seven billion rupees have been allocated in the budget for over three hundred schemes in communication sector. The Adviser on Financial Affairs also announced 10% increase in the salaries and pension of the employees of all provincial departments on the pattern of Federal Government. It is worth mentioning here that the provincial government had to reschedule the unveiling of annual budget three times in a year. The budget was due to be presented on June 9 but was postponed reportedly due to disagreement over distribution of development funds between partners in the provincial government.