Government has given a historic budget for the next fiscal year : Chief Minister Punjab

Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has said that provincial government has given a historic budget for the next fiscal year. He said that the new budget is people and farmers-friendly while the balanced and development budget will usher in a new era of progress and prosperity in the province.

He said that the volume of annual development programme in the new financial year is Rs.550 billion which is 37.5 percent higher than the last year. He said that Punjab government has allocated billions of rupees for the uplift and betterment of ten crore people of the province. He said that record funds have been earmarked in the budget for education, health, agriculture, water supply and social sector.

He said that implementation of biggest annual development programme in the history of the province will usher in an era of progress and development. He said that a positive change will be brought in the lives of the people by completing all projects under annual development programme. He said that the new budget will help in poverty alleviation and minimizing the gulf between the rich and the poor.

The Chief Minister said that huge funds have been allocated in the budget for the development of agriculture and prosperity of cultivators. He said that reduction in the prices of fertilizers and power tariff for agri tube-wells will benefit small cultivators. He said that farmers will greatly benefit from subsidy of billions of rupees on fertilizers, agri implements and seeds.

Shahbaz Sharif said that progress of South Punjab and prosperity of its people has always been the priority of the government and billions of rupees have been earmarked in the budget for removing sense of deprivation of people of this region. He said that a higher share has been reserved for south Punjab in welfare programmes as well. He said that setting up of economic zones will generate lakhs of job opportunities. He said that the historic programme of repair and rehabilitation of rural roads will result in progress of rural economy.

The Chief Minister said that metro bus system has changed transport culture and people of south Punjab will also benefit from this project in Multan. He said that unprecedented programmes and projects will be carried out during next financial year for the progress and prosperity of people of the province.