Punjab cabinet approves budget proposals for 2022-23

• Rs3.226tr budget for FY23 termed as ‘Roshan rahein naya sawera’.
• CM Hamza terms the document "best” budget.
• Cabinet approves an increase in the salaries of govt employees.

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shahbaz approved on Monday the budget proposals for the next fiscal year 2022-23 during a special session of the provincial cabinet.

The Rs3.226 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 has been termed ‘Roshan rahein naya sawera’.

The government has decided to allocate the portfolio of finance minister to Sardar Awais Leghari to present the budget.

The cabinet has approved an increase in the salaries and pensions of government employees and a 15% special allowance.

Watch: 'Growth' budget 2022-23 at a glance

Moreover, permission has also been granted for the MoU about free medication for all cancer patients.

Commenting on the budget, CM Hamza said the provincial government has worked day and night to prepare the “best” budget.

“The budget proposals include relief measures for the people and has been prepared with consultation from all political and administrative authorities,” he added.

According to the documents available with Geo News, a proposal has been accepted to allocate Rs900 million for women's development projects, while Rs19.5 billion has been allocated for the local government.

Infrastructural development

Meanwhile, the cabinet approved a proposed allocation of Rs164.26 billion for projects related to infrastructural development. Among this, Rs80.77 billion has been earmarked for road construction.

The documents showed that Rs27.63 billion has been set aside for the irrigation sector, Rs5 billion for the energy sector and Rs41.4 billion for the production sector.

Read more: Budget 2022-23 represents ‘significant improvement’ in several ways, says PM Shehbaz

The provincial finance ministry has proposed that Rs29.5 billion be allocated to public buildings, while more than Rs21 billion has been suggested for urban development.

Production sector

The provincial government has set aside Rs14.77 billion for the agriculture sector, while Rs4.5 billion will be set aside for forests, around Rs1 billion for the wildlife and fisheries each.

Meanwhile, for the livestock and dairy sector the government has decided to allocate over Rs4 billion.

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The document shows that allocation worth Rs12.53 billion has been made for industries, commerce, and investment, Rs1.5 billion for mines and minerals and Rs1.2 billion for the tourism sector.

Services sector

• Punjab has allocated Rs6.2 billion for governance and IT
• Rs500 million for labour and HR development
• Rs6.3 billion for the transport
• Rs1.8 billion for emergency service (1122)

Other sectors

• Rs5 billion for environment and climate change
• Rs533 million for information and culture
• Rs700 million for archaeology

Major new initiatives

• Rs2.148 billion — Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Centre (PKLI) and PKLI Nursing School
• Rs0.7 billion — self-employment schemes
• Rs1.5 billion — provision of laptops
• Rs1 billion — prisoners’ welfare programme
• Rs5 billion — correctional facilities improvement
• Rs0.5 billion — Digital Punjab
• Rs4 billion — chief minister’s priority programme
• Rs0.9 billion — Punjab urban land systems enhancement
• Rs0.5 billion — soft and green ground in Punjab

Special development packages

• Rs125 billion — Sehat Card programme
• Rs58.5 billion — Sustainable Development programme
• Rs31.5 billion — Sustainable Development programme (South Punjab)
• Rs35 billion — road rehabilitation programme (inter-district roads)
• Rs4.2 billion — Skill Development programme
• Rs1.5 billion — solarisation of water supply and irrigation systems
• Rs5 billion — Viability Gap Fund (VGF) and land acquisition for development projects
• Rs45 billion — public-private partnerships