Lahore: The Punjab government on Thursday presented budget for financial year 2024-2025 of an outlay of Rs 5446 billion.
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shauja Ur Rehman presented the budget in the Punjab Assembly which started almost two-hour late.
Provincial Minister apprised that the budget is a tax free budget and all sections of the society has been taken care of in the budget.
Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman said that free solar system will be provided to customers using 100 units of electricity.
He apprised further that new 77 new mega projects will be included in the yearly development plan.
He informed that a whopping sum of Rs 5 billion allocated for Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) endowment fund.
He announced that Rs 130 billion has been earmarked for social protection.
On the other hand, Rs 26 billion allocated for agriculture equipment and Rs 10 billion for the Kissan card, he announced.
He said that this budget is for saving farmers from every type of harm.
He said that Rs 10 billion also earmarked for a laptop scheme while Rs 30 billion allocated for the CM Green Tractor Program.
He annouced that a sum of Rs 1.4 billion earmarked for women welfare in the budget.
The Punjab government also increased salaries of grade 1 to grade 16 employees by 25 percent.while 20 percent raise has been given to employees from grade 17 to 22.
Provincial Finance Minister said that this budget is a poor friendly budget adding this budget will remove difficulties of common people and bring comfort in their lives.
A sum of Rs 10 billion earmarked for the Punjab endownment fund, the minister said.
He said that the government has decided to extend further the system of Danish Schools across the province adding that in every district a Danish school will be established.
He announced that the government will provide easy loans on construction of houses on five marla plots.
He said that Information Technology (IT) labs will be established in the government schools.
The Finance Minister ensured that the bridges affected by the floods will be restored on the preferential basis.
The Minister announced that a sum of Rs 80 billion allocated for the CM District and SGD program.
He apprised that for development of Lahore a Rs 35 billion earmarked while for Muree as a tourism site a sum of Rs 5 billion allocated for it.
