–Allocates Rs337bn for development; Rs284.2bn for health; Rs391bn for education; Rs8bn for SMEs
–Brings down tax to 5pc for over 20 services: stamp duty rate cut to 1pc
–Opp parties protest against budget, walk out of House
LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht on Monday presented the provincial budget proposal for the next fiscal year in the Punjab Assembly with a total outlay of Rs2,240.7 billion, including Rs337bn for development, amid ruckus caused by the opposition members.
The finance minister said that under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, Punjab will receive Rs1,433bn, while provincial receipts (own resource revenue) are estimated at Rs317bn during the financial year 2020-21.
Terming the provincial budget as “progressive” and “pro-business” in the given circumstances, he added that ongoing expenditure for the next fiscal year have been estimated at Rs1,318bn containing Rs337.6bn for salaries, while Rs337bn have been allocated for development expenditures, Rs128.40bn for capital expenditure, and Rs125bn as estimated provincial surplus.
The finance minister said that the government has also reduced Service Delivery Expenditures by Rs10bn and increased the local government’s budget by Rs10bn. He added that the provincial government was planning on saving more than Rs19bn through pension reforms.
GOVT EARMARKS RS284.2BN FOR HEALTH:
The provincial government has earmarked Rs284.20bn for the health sector collectively in the financial year 2020-21 budget.
According to documents issued in this regard, Rs250.70bn will be spent on ongoing regular projects, while Rs33bn have been allocated for development expenditures in the health sector.
The provincial government has specifically allocated Rs13bn to overcome Covid-19 and Rs26bn for procurement of medicines instead of Rs23bn earmarked during the previous budget.
The provincial government will spend Rs6bn on upgradation and provision of missing facilities in the district headquarters hospitals of Dera Ghazi Khan, Gujranwala, Sahiwal as well as the Institute of Urology and Transplantation Rawalpindi, Nishtar Hospital Phase-II Multan, Mother and Child Block Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Upgradation of Radiology/ Specialties Department Services Hospital Lahore and establishment of Institute of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery at the Children Hospital.
It will also provide important facilities in the Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Institute of Neuro-Sciences Lahore and Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute Lahore during the current financial year.
The government earmarked Rs12bn for Insaf Health Cards initiative, which will be introduced across the province.
An amount of Rs11.46bn has been allocated under the Department of Primary and Secondary Healthcare Development budget and it will be spent on upgradation of DHQs hospitals situated in the underdeveloped areas, establishment of new mother and child hospitals and revamping of all DHQs and 15 tehsil headquarters hospitals.
The government will initiate a comprehensive programme to control Covid-19, Hepatitis, AIDS and Tuberculosis (TB). It has also earmarked Rs1bn to keep 196 basic health units operational round-the-clock for seven days under the Prime Minister’s Health Initiative. The government has allocated Rs1.7bn for Integrated Reproductive Maternal Newborn Child Health and Nutrition Programme.
Bakht said that more than Rs391bn are being allocated for education sector. Out of it, Rs350.10bn will be spent on School Education Department which will ensure provision of scholarships to more than 500,000 female students and free text books for all.
RS9.35BN ALLOCATED FOR DEVELOPMENT:
An amount of Rs9.35bn has been allocated under the development budget by the Punjab government for ongoing schemes including medical education, specialised healthcare and miscellaneous and tertiary care hospitals of specialized healthcare and medical education while Rs250m would be spent on new schemes of the sector and Rs12.55bn have been allocated for other development programme (ODP).
An amount of Rs11.462bn has been earmarked in development budget 2020-21 for primary and secondary healthcare in which Rs9.502bn has been allocated for ongoing schemes under the primary and secondary healthcare, including Rs25m for local development programme, Rs3.238bn for preventive healthcare, Rs548.699bn for primary healthcare, Rs1.293bn for research and development, Rs3.349bn for secondary healthcare and Rs1.049bn for special initiatives.
In the development budget, an amount of Rs1.960bn has been allocated for new schemes of primary and secondary healthcare, including Rs1.9bn for two new schemes of preventive healthcare, Rs10m for one scheme of primary healthcare and Rs50m for one new scheme of secondary healthcare.
In his budget speech, the Punjab finance minister said that the provincial government has decided to include the private sector to meet its development needs through innovating financing.
He said that Punjab Public Partnership Authority has been setup which has identified mega projects worth Rs165bn for the next fiscal year. These projects include Lahore Ring Road Phase 4, Multan Vehari Dual Road, Nala Layi Expressway, Rawalpindi Ring Road and provision of Water Meters.
Bakht said that Rs15bn are being allocated for Community Development Program. He said that Rs8bn are being allocated for development of micro, small and medium enterprises. He said that an allocation worth Rs6.87bn has been made for Technical and Vocational Education Authority out of which Hundermand Jawan Program is being launched at a cost of Rs1.50bn.
TAX RELIEF:
The finance minister also announced the biggest tax relief package of provincial history for business community which will also provide relief to public as well. Under this package, tax rate on health insurance and doctors’ consultancy fees and hospitals will be made zero from current rate of 16 per cent and 5pc, respectively.
He said that tax rate on more than 20 services, including small hotels, guests houses, marriage halls, laws, caterers, IT services, and tour operators will be brought down from 16pc to 5pc. He said that current rate of stamp duty rate will be brought down from 5pc to 1pc during next fiscal year which will help in promoting construction industry and create new job opportunities.
OPPOSITION PROTESTS:
The opposition parties staged a loud protest during the finance minister’s speech.
They held placards inscribed with slogans against the budget.
Members of the opposition parties, including the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), also attempted to besiege the finance minister’s seat during the speech. However, after protesting for several minutes, the opposition members walked out of the session.
Punjab Assembly Speaker Chaudhry Pervez Elahi adjourned the session until Thursday 2pm after completion of day’s agenda.
