Punjab presents historic people-friendly budget: Marriyum

Lahore: Senior provincial minister Marriyum Aurangzeb Friday said that the Punjab government presented a historic people-friendly and tax-free budget yesterday.

While addressing a post-budget press conference in Lahore, Marriyum stated that this budget is a cashback budget, it is not like the previous tenures. Prime Minister presented the budget in the Federation on June 12. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz presented the tax-free budget of Punjab.

She added that a policy statement was given in the form of the budget, taking difficult decisions and giving stability to the people and the economy. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is working hard day and night to correct the direction of the economy. We have not done anything to remove the plaques of the previous governments and install our own.

The League leader further said that the dead schemes have been running for many years, and health and education have been prioritised in the budget. More than 0.6 million people have benefited from the clinics on wheels, and thousands of people have also benefited from the field hospitals. The complete reconstruction of basic health units and other health facilities is also included in this budget.

Marriyum Aurangzeb also stated that for the first time in education, teacher training, and education quality is highly prioritized. A project has been created in the education sector with private sector partnership. Kisan Card interest-free loan scheme has been launched.

On the development side, money has been kept in the budget for advanced machinery on the tractor. In solar technology, the budget has also been kept on the development side. An end-to-end plan for solid waste management is being introduced in all the provinces for which Rs120 billion has been earmarked, she stated.

The provincial minister also said that Rs17-25 billion has been increased for wildlife, fisheries and forest. The citizens of Lahore know that smog is a big problem, therefore, a plan for smog-less Lahore has been designed with all sectors.

Aurangzeb stated that the process of targeted planning has started in Punjab under the Social Economic Registry. “We have seen a reduction in inflation in the last three months. 17 percent increase in pension has been approved in Punjab. The minimum salary has been increased to 37,000 rupees”.

The League leader continued that the country was saved from default in the previous government of Shehbaz Sharif. We knew that the elections were approaching but did not play with the economy. Today the Pakistani economy is moving towards stability. The funding of Rs1 billion has been allocated for the journalist community.

Maryam Aurangzeb further said that no tax has been imposed in this budget. There has been criticism on the federal and Punjab budgets for the past few days, but we have saved the country from default only by making correct decisions.