LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided that the next development budget for the province will have an outlay of Rs200 billion, out of which 80% of the funds will be allocated for ongoing development schemes. Furthermore, in southern Punjab, development funds will be allocated according to population ratios.
These decisions were taken in several high-level meetings on the development budget for upcoming fiscal year 2013-14, which were presided over by Punjab Planning and Development (P&D) Board Chairman Sohail Ahmad.
During the next fiscal year, Rs160-170 billion will be made available for development projects in the form of cash. According to the figures available, the provincial government has focused on education, health, the social sector, irrigation and energy as its topmost priorities. The Punjab government will also focus on matters such as the establishment of a waste water treatment plant and reducing stagnant wastewater ponds in rural areas during the next fiscal year.
According to the plan, the Punjab government will provide sufficient funds to complete projects in the energy sector and to establish new ones that can help produce energy from different canals. Moreover, development funds are being allocated to construct buildings and improve jails across the province, under the Jails Reforms Project of the Chief Justice of Pakistan.
According to sources, Punjab Chief Minister Najam Sethi has also directed the P&D chairman to release funds for the completion of ongoing development programmes on a priority basis.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2013.
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