LAHORE: Provincial Finance Minister Dr. Ayesha Ghous Pasha on Friday said that Punjab government has allocated Rs 50.83 billion for Irrigation Department to improve irrigation system.
In the budget speech on the floor of Punjab Assembly here, she said that under a comprehensive programme, barrages were being repaired and rehabilitated in the province. Jinnah Barrage would be rehabilitated with a cost of Rs 12.67 billion, while Rs 900 million has been allocated for the purpose in the fiscal year 2015-16.
The Punjab Finance Minister said that Khanki Barrage is being completed with a cost of Rs 23.44 billion and in the next fiscal year, a sum of Rs 6.15 billion has been allocated.
She added that a phased programme of Rs 8 billion has been prepared to protect Sialkot, Kamonke and adjoining settlements from floods.
The government is also allocating Rs 8.59 billion for Livestock sector for financial year 2015-16, she said, adding that on the directive of Chief Minister, fee on cattle sale and purchased has been waived of, while cattle markets have been established at divisional level and these markets were being operated through management companies. Punjab government has established model cattle markets at Sheikhupura and Faisalabad, while a grant for Rs 800 million has been earmarked for establishing more model markets in province during FY 2015-16.
