Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah unveiled Rs1.043 trillion budget for next fiscal year 2017-18 on Monday in the Sindh Assembly here. 

Shah, who also holds the portfolio of minister for finance, delivered the budget speech after Sindh cabinet approved budgetary estimates for the upcoming financial year and revised budget for the outgoing fiscal year 2016-17.

In his budget speech, the chief minister said the federal government had promised his government to provide Rs493 billion but only Rs425 billion were released during past 11 months.

“PPP-government has improved the quality of Transport and Education in the province and 88 per cent of the development funds will be spent this year”, Shah said.

He announced to provide 49 thousand jobs in various sectors including ten thousand recruitment in police department to meet shortage of staff, adding that  it is a tax-free budget in which top priority has been given to education and health sectors.

The Chief Minister informed that education sector has been accorded the highest priority with allocation of 202.2 billion rupees while health sector’s allocation is 100.32 billion rupees which is 26 percent more as compared to the current financial year.

EDUCATION: Education’s got the lion’s share in Sindh budget 2017-18, as Rs202.2 billion have been set aside for this sector.

A sum of 100b will be spent on new and existing universities and colleges in the province.

Rs1.5b will be given to girl students in scholarships.

School management committees will be provided Rs1b for improving the quality of education.

HEALTH: A total of Rs100.32 billion has been allocated for health sector.

TAXES: A sum of 199 billion will be collected from taxes in next financial year.

SALARIES AND PENSIONS: A 10% raise has been proposed in the salaries and pensions of provincial government employees.