QUETTA: In Quetta, the Balochistan Assembly session on the provincial budget is currently underway, with Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani presenting the budget under the chairmanship of Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. The total proposed budget amounts to Rs 1,028 billion, including a surplus of Rs 36.5 billion.
The non-development expenditure is set at Rs 642 billion, with Rs 38 billion allocated to foreign-funded projects, Rs 24 billion from the Sui Gas Lease Extension Bonus, and Rs 38 billion expected from capital receipts.
The total expenditures are estimated at Rs 991.5 billion, while Rs 245 billion has been earmarked for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
In his budget speech, Shoaib Nosherwani emphasized that the provincial government ensured consultation with all political parties on key matters. Salaries of government employees have been increased by 10%, and pensions by 7%.
Special attention has been given to rural development, aiming to deliver the benefits of governance to the people. The finance minister described the budget as balanced and reflective of the government’s commitment to public welfare.
Highlighting sector-wise allocations, the minister stated that the Communication and Works Department has been given top priority with a development budget of over Rs 55.21 billion, making up 19% of the total development expenditure.
The Irrigation Department is allocated Rs 42.78 billion, while Rs 19.85 billion is designated for school education development, and Rs 4.99 billion for higher education projects.
The non-development budget for colleges is Rs 24 billion, with Rs 5 billion earmarked for development activities. The health sector will receive Rs 16.15 billion for its development schemes.
The Science and IT sector has been allocated Rs 12.66 billion, and the Public Health Engineering Department is set to receive Rs 17.16 billion.
For local government development, Rs 12.91 billion is proposed, while the agriculture sector will receive Rs 10.17 billion. The energy department’s development budget is projected at Rs 7.84 billion.
Furthermore, Rs 567.6 million has been allocated for the development of the minerals and mining sector, and Rs 154 million for women’s development projects.
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The government plans to eliminate 6,000 unnecessary posts and launch Safe City projects in eight cities with an allocation of Rs 18 billion. To tackle climate change challenges, Rs 500 million has been set aside.
