LAHORE: The Punjab budget for the year 2016-17 with a total outlay of Rs 1.45 trillion has been given final shape.
The Punjab cabinet will accord its approval to the budget on Monday which will be presented the same evening in the Punjab Assembly (PA) session.
According to budget documents available with Daily Times, a 10 per cent increase in the salaries of the employees and a 15 per cent in the pension of retired employees has been proposed in the budget.
Rs 30 billion is proposed to be allocated for the chief minister’s special package, Rs 30 billion for Khadim Punjab Rural road programme, Rs 30 billion for clean drinking water projects, Rs 30 billion for completion of projects launched with foreign financial assistance, Rs 13 billion for Police I-C/3 project Lahore, Rs 10 billion for Kidney Liver institute, Rs 10 billion for Lahore Ring Road (Southern lope), Rs 9 billion for renovation of dilapidated schools and Rs seven billion for Lahore Knowledge Park.
The laptop scheme for students will continue this year and Rs six billion are being earmarked in the provincial budget on this count.
It is proposed to earmark Rs six billion for providing facilities in the schools, Rs 22.6 billion for school education and Rs 13.49 billion for higher education.
The Punjab government has intended to give Rs 50 billion special kissan package . Over Rs 12.21 billion are being allocated for the development of the agriculture sector, Rs 2.16 billion for literacy and non formal basic education, Rs 2.87 billion for promotion of sports and Rs 26.19 billion for providing health facilities.
It has been proposed to allocate Rs five billion for the Lahore Canal Road expansion project, Rs 14.95 billion for water supply and sewerage, Rs 610 million for social welfare, over Rs 4.43 billion for local government and city district, Rs 79.81 billion for construction of roads, over Rs 40.67 billion for irrigation projects and Rs 10.40 billion for energy projects.
Over Rs 10.5 billion are to be earmarked for public buildings, Rs 16 billion for urban development, Rs 115 million for cooperatives, Rs 1.35 billion for forestry, Rs 805 million for wild life, Rs 690 million for fishing, Rs 834 million for food and over Rs 4,66 billion for livestock.
Rs 518 million are being allocated for development of mineral projects, over Rs 9.82 billion for governance and IT, Rs 702 million for labour and human resources, over Rs 32.23 billion for transport, over Rs 2.18 billion for emergency services, Rs 1.7 billion for tourism, Rs 58 million for environment, Rs 414 million for information and culture, Rs 460 million for national heritage, Rs 115 million for Auqaf and ministry of religious affairs, Rs 575 million for human rights and minorities and over Rs 7.22 billion for planning and development.
Sources say that the government does not intend to launch any other mega project except the Orange Line Metro so that provision of funds could be ensured for this project.