Punjab unveils pro-people budget worth over Rs5,903bn

Lahore: Punjab Government presented a pro-people budget for the next financial year, with a total outlay of 5,903 billion and 460 million rupees in the Assembly today.

Presenting the budget, Provincial Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that the overall proposed current expenditures are estimated at 1,962 billion and 930 million rupees.

He said a seven percent increase has been proposed in the salaries of Punjab government employees, while a 3.5 percent increase has been proposed in the pensions of retired employees.

An amount of 803 billion and 880 million rupees has been allocated for local government institutions under the PFC Award.

The services delivery expenditures are estimated at 783 billion and 620 million rupees, while current capital expenditures stand at 679 billion and 10 million rupees.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the provincial budget for the next financial year after the provincial cabinet accorded its formal approval to the budget document.

Addressing the cabinet meeting, she said the government had made every possible effort to provide maximum relief to the people and minimize their financial burden.

Maryam Nawaz said the budget has been prepared without imposing any new taxes and is focused on public welfare, development, and prosperity.