QUETTA: The Balochistan Provincial Assembly has passed the budget for the financial year 2016-17 with total outlay of over Rs 287 billion, including over Rs 215 billion for non-development and over Rs 71 billion for development expenditures.
The session was chaired by Speaker Ms Raheela Hameed Khan Durrani. Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Khan Zehri tabled 55 demands for grants, which were approved by the House unanimously as the opposition benches did not oppose the same.
The House approved Rs 13.47 billion for expenditures on general administration, economic matters, statistics and publicity and information.
The chief minister moved a demand for grant for over Rs 730 million for expenditure on head of provincial revenue. A amount of over Rs 30 million was sought for stamps expenditure. Another demand for grant was moved for over Rs 12 billion on head of pension.
Over Rs 1.65 billion was sought for expenditure on head of administration of justice and another sum of over Rs 230 million was sought for expenditure on head of prosecution department. Approval for over Rs 15 billion was sought for expenditure on Balochistan Police. Another sum of over Rs 04 billion was sought for expenditure on Balochistan Constabulary.
The chief minister tabled the demand for grant for seeking approval for expenditure of over Rs 6 billion on head of Levies.
Over Rs 3 billion was sought for health services’ expenditure and over Rs 13 billion for higher education. Similarly, approval was sought for expenditure of over Rs 28 billion for secondary education and over Rs 17 billion for Health Department.
The House approved demand for grant of over Rs 3 billion for Relief in Natural Calamities, over Rs 7 billion or Agriculture Department, over Rs 3 billion for Livestock sector, over Rs 12 billion for rural development and over Rs 14 billion for energy sector. It also gave approval for expenditure of over Rs 22 billion for government loans, over Rs 6 billion for state trade and over Rs 4 billion for investment.
The House approved demands for grant of over Rs 19 billion for general services, over Rs 21 billion for economic affairs, over Rs 15 billion for environment protection and over Rs 3 billion for residential and community facilities and health. It also approved expenditure of over Rs 6 billion for educational services and over Rs 390 million for social protection.
