Hashim Presents Sector-wise Allocations In Punjab Assembly

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th Oct, 2018 ) :Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakhat presented sector-wise allocations of Punjab Budget for fiscal year (FY) 2018-19 during his budget speech on the floor of Punjab Assembly here on Tuesday.

Detailing sector-wise budgetary allocations in the house, he said that despite financial constraints, PTI government had allocated Rs 373 billion for Education sector which was Rs 28 billion higher than the previous FY and this was an ample proof of the PTI's commitment toward this vital sector. The Punjab government, he added, had also firm resolve to achieve all targets set under Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

He mentioned that every year, two million children were enrolled in first class in government schools but 34 percent out them left the school in a year especially in southern Punjab, and only seven lac children remained in schools till their Matric (10th) class. In an effort to control this trend, he said, the government had earmarked Rs 500 million and introducing a new tier to focus on pre-primary school education.

The finance minister said a new track was also being introduced for Technical and Vocational Education with an allocation of Rs 50 million, while under the public-private partnership, it was proposed to allocate funds of Rs 12 billion and Rs 4 billion for private and public schools respectively.

During the current fiscal year, he added, a feasibility study would be conducted for three new universities of international standard to be established in northern, central and southern Punjab, while all the colleges would be transformed into model colleges under a comprehensive phased-wise policy. A grant of Rs one billion was being set aside for provision of stipend to the intelligent but deserving students.

Health sector, he said, was being provided a total of Rs 284 billion with prime focus to make the health system accessible and affordable for the common man, asserting that this important sector was giving 14 percent of the Annual Developmental Plan (ADP) in the current FY against the eight percent in the last FY (2017-18).

Hashim Jawan Bakhat said that "Insaaf Sehat Card" system was being introduced in Punjab under which "Health Insurance Programme" to be launched in all the 36 districts of province.

About provision of clean drinking water and drainage system, he said, a hefty grant of Rs 20.5 billion was being earmarked in the ADP out of which Rs 12 billion would be spent on new schemes. Major developmental programmes of this sector included Provision of Clean Water for Healthy Life and Insaaf Programme for Rural Water Supply and Sanitation worth Rs 05 billion each. Revival of dysfunctional rural water supply schemes in rain-fed areas, and installation of waste water treatment plant and surface water treatment plant were also part of the ADP.

The finance minister said the present government was putting in place effective measures to ensure equitable distribution of resources and provision of equal opportunities to the people across the province to end regional disparity and alleviate poverty especially in far-flung areas.

Agriculture sector's total allocation in the current budget was Rs 93 billion, while it was Rs 81.3 billion in the last FY, he said and elaborated that farmer would be given Rs 250,000 interest-free loans for which account Rs 15 billion. The government was focusing to promote high-value crops and gardening, and keeping in view the climate change, OPVs varieties were being introduced for Horticulture crops, besides establishment of Centre of Excellence of Olive Research.

Irrigation sector would get a total of Rs 19.5 billion, he said and asserted that government was targeting to start construction of Dadhocha Dam with an estimated cost of Rs 6 billion and it would provide clean drinking water to residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. Restoration of Panjnad Barrage and construction of Jalapur Irrigation Canal System would be started this year and this would ensure water supply to 1.6 million acre area of Bahawalpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts as well as bring 160,000 acre of barren land under cultivation in Jehlum and Khushab districts.

The Punjab government, for the first time, would launch Provincial Water Policy and Punjab Ground Water Act to ensure better use of available water, he said.

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