KARACHI: Sindh government has presented the highest ever outlay budget 2017/2018 estimated at Rs1.04 trillion with 15 percent increase in salary and pension.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah unveiled the provincial budget in the Sindh Assembly. He said that the total receipts of province for financial year 2017/2018 are estimated at Rs1.02 trillion against an estimated expenditure of Rs1.04 trillion, with Rs14 billion deficit.
Receipt estimate reflect an increase of 19.3 percent over budget estimate of Rs854.5 billion for current financial year.
Receipts from the federal government on account of revenue assignment, straight transfer and grants are estimated at Rs627.3 billion. Receipts from the federal government are 61.5 percent of the total receipts of the province. Receipts of Federal PSDP are estimated at Rs27.3 billion. Receipts on account of Foreign Project Assistance (FPA), budgetary support loans and grants are estimated at Rs42.7 billion. Receipts from provincial own sources including tax and non-tax receipts are estimated at Rs199 billion.
The targets of provincial own sources have been increased by 16.5 percent. On the expenditure side the outlay of budget is estimated at Rs1.04 trillion as against budget estimate of Rs869.11 billion, reflecting an increase of 19.6 percent. The current expenditure including current revenue expenditure of Rs666.47 billion and current capital expenditure of Rs32.64 billion stands at Rs699.11 billion. The chief minister said that for next financial year current expenditure constitutes 68.2 percent of the total provincial budget reflecting an increase of 14 percent over estimates of Rs572.7 billion for current financial year.
The provincial government estimated development expenditure for next fiscal year pitched at Rs274 billion. This allocation is unprecedented and an all-time high.
“It speaks volumes about our efficient resource allocation. Sindh has witnessed a decade of sustainable development,” he said.
During the current financial year, the government undertook interventions to improve financial management and reporting. The chief minister announced to create around 49,000 posts in the next fiscal year.
The major impact is on the already employed but abandoned Lady Health Workers. Over 25000 employees of Lady Health Workers program will be incorporated in service of Sindh. Besides, 10000 personnel will be recruited in Sindh Police. For next financial year we are proposing an increase on 15 percent in the basic salary of all employees.
