LAHORE: The Provincial Cabinet of Punjab headed by Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz has approved on Monday the budget proposals for the next fiscal year 2022-23 during a special session of the provincial cabinet.
The Rs3.226 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 has been termed ‘Roshan rahein naya sawera’.
The government has decided to allocate the portfolio of finance minister to Sardar Awais Leghari to present the budget.
The cabinet has approved an increase in the salaries and pensions of government employees and a 15% special allowance.
Moreover, permission has also been granted for the MoU about free medication for all cancer patients.
Commenting on the budget, CM Hamza said the provincial government has worked day and night to prepare the “best” budget.
“The budget proposals include relief measures for the people and has been prepared with consultation from all political and administrative authorities,” he added.
According to the documents available with Geo News, a proposal has been accepted to allocate Rs900 million for women’s development projects, while Rs19.5 billion has been allocated for the local government.
Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a proposed allocation of Rs164.26 billion for projects related to infrastructural development. Among this, Rs80.77 billion has been earmarked for road construction.
The documents showed that Rs27.63 billion has been set aside for the irrigation sector, Rs5 billion for the energy sector and Rs41.4 billion for the production sector.
The provincial finance ministry has proposed that Rs29.5 billion be allocated to public buildings, while more than Rs21 billion has been suggested for urban development.
The provincial government has set aside Rs14.77 billion for the agriculture sector, while Rs4.5 billion will be set aside for forests, around Rs1 billion for the wildlife and fisheries each.
Meanwhile, for the livestock and dairy sector the government has decided to allocate over Rs4 billion.
The document shows that allocation worth Rs12.53 billion has been made for industries, commerce, and investment, Rs1.5 billion for mines and minerals and Rs1.2 billion for the tourism sector.
Rs500 million for labour and HR development
Rs6.3 billion for the transport
Rs1.8 billion for emergency service (1122)
Other sectors
Rs5 billion for environment and climate change
Rs533 million for information and culture
Rs700 million for archaeology
Major new initiatives
Rs2.148 billion — Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI) and PKLI Nursing School
Rs0.7 billion — self-employment schemes
Rs1.5 billion — provision of laptops
Rs1 billion — prisoners’ welfare programme
Rs5 billion — correctional facilities improvement
Rs0.5 billion — Digital Punjab
Rs4 billion — chief minister’s priority programme
Rs0.9 billion — Punjab urban land systems enhancement
Rs0.5 billion — soft and green ground in Punjab
Special development packages
Rs125 billion — Sehat Card programme
Rs58.5 billion — Sustainable Development programme
Rs31.5 billion — Sustainable Development programme (South Punjab)
Rs35 billion — road rehabilitation programme (inter-district roads)
Rs4.2 billion — Skill Development programme
Rs1.5 billion — solarisation of water supply and irrigation systems
Rs5 billion — Viability Gap Fund (VGF) and land acquisition for development projects
Rs45 billion — public-private partnerships
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