Punjab government has presented a welfare-oriented budget for the fiscal year 2016-17

Lahore: The provincial minister for finance Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has said that like the past, Punjab government has presented a welfare-oriented and exemplary budget for the fiscal year 2016-17, that will ensure durable development, strengthening of economy and improvement in the living standard of the people of the province.

She was addressing a post budget press conference here at 90 The MAll,flanked by Minister for Law Rana Sanaullah Khan,Yawar Zaman,Begum Zakia Shahnawaz,Hameeda Waheed ud Din,Rana Arshad and Zaeem Qadri.

She said that maximum increase has been made in Annual Development Programme in the history of the province. She said that the new budget will prove to be a milestone in speedy development of Punjab, progress and prosperity of backward areas and raising the living standard of deprived segments of the society.

Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that an era of speedy development and prosperity will usher in the province with the implementation of historic Annual Development Programme for the fiscal year 2016-17. She said that a record increase has been made in the resources for agriculture, education and health besides other social sectors.

She said that the new budget is a harbinger of speedy economic development and prosperity of the masses. She said that a comprehensive and effective programme has been evolved for making Punjab a safe, prosperous, educated and developed province with regard to agriculture and industry and the new budget is a consolidated economic document for the progress and welfare of the people of the province.

The Punjab’s Finance Minister said that historic measures have been announced in the budget for the development of agriculture and prosperity of farmers and huge resources have been allocated for this purpose. She said that along with a package of billions of rupees, relief has been given to farmers by reducing prices of fertilizers. She said that farmers will benefit from decrease in the prices of fertilizers and power tariff on agri tube-wells.

Dr Ayesha said that lakhs of farmers will benefit from subsidy of billions of rupees on fertilizers, agri implements and seeds. She said that progress and prosperity of south Punjab is priority of the government and huge funds of 173 billion rupees have been allocated for the prosperity of the people of the region.

She said that provision of quality education and health facilities to the masses is mission of the government. Top priority has been given in the budget to education, health, agriculture and water supply projects,she maintained .

She said that no burden has been put on common man in the budget while public welfare has been given due importance. She said that such measures have been announced in the budget for next fiscal year as will result in poverty alleviation and minimizing the gulf between the rich and the poor,Dr Ayesha claimed . She said that new budget of Punjab government reflects balanced development and welfare of the masses.