Syed Ali Shah:
QUETTA: Balochistan government presented a deficit budget with a total outlay of Rs. 612.79 billion on Tuesday evening. Because of differences within the coalition government, the budget session began with three hours delay. Deputy Speaker Balochistan Assembly, Sardar Babar Musakhail chaired the session.
Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran, the Finance Minister of Balochistan presented the budget for the financial year 2022-23. The provincial government allocated Rs.367 billion for non-development expenditures for the financial year 2022-23.
For the Public Sector Development Program (SPDP), the government has allocated Rs.191.51 billion. The government has also increased the salaries of government employees by 15 percent on their basic salaries as of 2017. Sardar Khetran also informed that the government has increased pension by 15 percent.
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Education and Health Sectors
The Minister informed that the government has allocated Rs.43.814 billion for the health sector in Balochistan. Last year, the government allocated Rs.40.362 billion for the health sector. Sardar Khetran mentioned that the government has allocated Rs.83.211 for the education sector in Balochistan. During 2021-22, the government allocated Rs.70.263 for the education sector.
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Law and Order
The finance minister informed that the government has allocated Rs.56.00 for the law and order/public order and safety affairs. Last year, the government allocated Rs.49.778 for the law and order in Balochistan.
2,850 vacancies were created in the budget for the year 2022-23
The government has also created 2,850 vacancies to provide jobs to the jobless people in Balochistan. Most of the jobs have been created in the health and education sectors. Presenting the budget, Sardar Khetran informed that the provincial government would get Rs. 370.33 billion from the federal government under the National Finance Commission (NFC) award. The budget deficit is declared over Rs.72 billion.
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Rs.6.60 billion allocated for free medicines to patients
Mr. Khetran stated that the province would get Rs. 14.36 billion from the foreign support fund and Rs.40 billion on the account of the Sui Gas lease. The government has given priority to the education and health sectors. The Finance Minister announced that Rs.6.60 billion were allocated for the provision of medicines to patients across Balochistan.
