LAHORE: Punjab government has decided to present its annual budget for the next financial year (FY) 2025-26 on June 16 which was earlier fixed on June 13.
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman told media that government was working on budget draft which is taking time therefore government has decided to present annual budget in the provincial assembly on June 16. He made it clear that Punjab budget will be tax free.
Sources said the chief minister has rejected proposals from ministers to impose new tax on mases. According to sources, there is a proposal to earmark over Rs1,100 billion for development purposes. As many as Rs1076 billion, to be spent on 2,750 development schemes, will be generated from local funding while Rs124.30 billion will come from foreign funding.
As many as Rs536 billion have been set aside for 1,412 ongoing development projects, while 1,353 new schemes will be initiated in the next FY for which Rs457 billion are likely to be allocated in the budget.
Sources have informed that there is a proposal to earmark Rs100 billion for the Punjab chief minister’s local road programme block.
Similarly, they have added, the allocation of Rs1 billion has been proposed for the conversion of tehsil headquarters hospitals to solar energy, and Rs750 million for the conversion of government high secondary schools to solar energy.
Sources have elaborated that there is a suggestion to earmark over Rs4.34 billion for the Punjab Saf Pani Authority; Rs9 billion for the chief minister’s schools’ meals programme in eight districts of the province; Rs10 billion for the chief minister’s tractor programme, and Rs750 million for the construction and repair of Zaraat House in Lahore.
The introduction of a three-year programme for increasing the production of mangoes in the province is also under consideration, sources have said, adding that there is a suggestion to allocate Rs750 million for the purpose every year.
Likewise, they have informed, there is a proposal to set aside Rs500 million for the World Bank-funded Punjab Clean Air Programme every year; Rs5 billion for the Phase-II of the Punjab Green Tractor Programme; Rs500 million for the Trade and Investment House in Punjab, and Rs89 billion for the chief minister’s Asaan Karobar Finance.
Sources have informed that the allocation of Rs750 million has been suggested for setting up more Punjab business facilitation centers; the allocation of Rs8 billion and Rs6 billion for the CM’s Asaan Karobar Finance North and Asaan Karobar Finance South, respectively, and Rs3 billion for installing solar systems in the province’s government colleges.
Likewise, there is a proposal to set aside Rs3.40 million for converting the district and sessions courts as well as the Lahore High Court benches to the solar system and Rs200 million for converting the Governor’s House to solar system.
