Home TRENDING THE STATE OF PUNJAB HAS APPROVED A BUDGET OF RS2.07 TRILLION FOR...

THE STATE OF PUNJAB HAS APPROVED A BUDGET OF RS2.07 TRILLION FOR THE NEXT QUARTER.

THE STATE OF PUNJAB HAS APPROVED A BUDGET OF RS2.07 TRILLION FOR THE NEXT QUARTER.

SHARE

A surplus budget of Rs2.07 trillion, including an allocation of Rs351 billion for development spending, for the next four months was approved by the Caretaker Punjab Cabinet on Monday in LAHORE.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. PHOTO: Screengrab/File

Several major decisions were made at the 31st session of the temporary provincial cabinet meeting on Monday at the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, which was presided over by Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi. An impressive Rs50 billion was approved for distribution to province people.

Since it did not have the jurisdiction to approve a full-year budget in the absence of an elected administration, the government presented a four-month budget in June under the applicable article of the Constitution with the signatures of the caretaker chief minister.

It was, however, crucial to keep track of recurrent costs and oversee normal operations in the province.

Both the health and education sectors received significant increases in funding in the recently passed four-month budget, totaling Rs208 billion and Rs222 billion respectively.

Additionally, Rs10 billion was earmarked for the improvement of the agriculture sector.

In addition to allocating Rs5 billion to the Punjab Textbook Board, the cabinet allocated Rs1.80 billion to the National Health Support Programme. In addition, Rs7.30 billion was set aside to address climate change concerns.

The finance secretary gave a detailed presentation on the upcoming four-month budget, focusing on the state of Punjab’s healthy finances and excess funds.

The passage, with an implementation date of July 1, 2023, of a minimum salary of Rs32,000 for workers is a major step forward.

Commissioners and deputy commissioners were urged by Chief Minister Naqvi to strictly enforce regulations on smoke-emitting vehicles and brick kilns in areas like Sheikhupura, Sahiwal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Lahore, and Kasur.

Stringent precautions were also urged for ongoing construction projects, highlighting the continuous use of water sprinklers and a stringent restriction on crop residue burning.

The cabinet also approved the Punjab Price Control for Essential Commodities Ordinance, 2023.

Finance Secretary Mujahid Sher Dil and his colleagues were praised by the Punjab cabinet for their work on the four-month budget.

Ministers, advisors, the police inspector general, the Punjab advocate general, the chairman of the Planning and Development Board, secretaries, and other high-ranking officials were all present at the meeting.

The Chief Minister of Punjab has met with the CEC.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his cabinet met with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja in his office to discuss holding fair and impartial elections.

Punjab Chief Minister Naqvi and Chief Election Commissioner Raja co-chaired the meeting, which was held in the Chief Minister’s Office.

The Election Commission of Pakistan’s preparations and the provincial government of Punjab’s election readiness were both subjected to a thorough evaluation.

The participants were given a rundown of the safety procedures.

The interim administration of Punjab and the Election Commission of Pakistan have reaffirmed their dedication to holding elections that are free from violence and fraud. The government of Punjab has decided to appoint a single point of contact for liaising with the ECP.

General elections are quickly approaching, as CEC Sikandar Sultan Raja pointed out, and it is everyone’s obligation to make sure they go off without a hitch and on schedule.

The interim government of Punjab can count on our full backing as it works to ensure fair and open elections.

By November 30th, delimitation will be complete, and the ECP will be ready to monitor open, fair elections.

The CEC has praised the interim government of Punjab led by caretaker Chief Minister Naqvi.

The Chief Minister, Naqvi, has given his full backing to the Election Commission in the interest of holding fair and honest elections.

He promised that, in accordance with the ECP’s standards, foolproof measures will be taken to ensure transparency in Punjab.

He stressed that holding honest elections is a civic duty that will be met with all due seriousness.

Nisar Ahmad Durrani (Sindh), Shah Muhammad Jatoi (Balochistan), Justice (r) Ikram Ullah Khan (KPK), Babar Hassan Bharwana (Punjab), special secretaries Dr. Asif Hussain and Zafar Iqbal Hussain, Punjab Provincial Election Commissioner Saeed Gull, the Chief Secretary, the Inspector General of Police, the Additional Chief Secretary (Home), and other administrative secretaries were present.

SHARE