Punjab has presented Rs 1.45 trillion budget 2015-16 on Friday. Provincial revenues are estimated as Rs 256.07 billion, of which taxes are expected to contribute Rs 160.59 billion and non-tax sources Rs 95.47 billion.
The Annual Development Plan receives Rs 400 billion, 15.9 percent more than last year. Current expenditure is estimated at Rs 735 billion. Relief measures for government servants include a raise in salaries and pensions of 7.5 percent, medical allowances 25 percent, minimum wage in line with the federal budget of Rs 13,000. The Punjab government intends to continue the Ashiyana Housing Scheme, Daanish Schools, Orange Line Lahore and the Apna Rozgar Scheme. Small farmers will receive 25,000 tractors at prices that will cost the provincial government a subsidy of Rs five billion. The Punjab government has started work on three projects that will produce 2,620 MW of electricity by end 2017. They comprise the Solar Power Project Bahawalpur, Sahiwal Coal Power and the Pind Dadan Khan energy project.
According to the Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif his government’s emphasis was on the rural areas, southern Punjab, education, health, infrastructure and the social sector. The Punjab government’s budget 2015-16 reflects its emphasis on power, roads, urban transport and water. But other political leaders termed that poor and their children will still remain without medicine, education and employment even after 8th budget of Punjab. Former Chief Minister of Punjab Ch Pervaiz Ilahi while bashing the budget said that Rescue 1122 seeking for donation is the ample proof of the failure of provincial government. It is dilemma that excellent emergency service providers like Rescue 1122 asking for donations via advertisements; they should not have been neglected in the budget. More oppression has been committed by levying new tax on farmers; there is no subsidy for them, whereas subsidy of Rs 2 billion per month is being given to Metro bus service in Lahore and Rawalpindi.
