Balochistan government unveils Rs465.528 bln relief-oriented budget.

ISLAMABAD -- Amid the impacts of coronavirus, the Balochistan government Saturday unveiled its relief-oriented and pro-business budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2020-21, with a total outlay of Rs465.528 billion.

Presenting the budget before the provincial assembly, Finance Minister, Mir Zahoor Baladi said the total revenue target for the upcoming year had been estimated at Rs377.914 billion, so the budget deficit would be around Rs87.614 billion.

He said the revenues would include Rs302.904 billion federal transfers, Rs46.407 billion provincial receipts, Rs3.538 billion Foreign Fund Projects Assistance (FPA), Rs14.698 billion Capital receipts, and Rs10.366 billion Cash Carry Over.

The minister also announced Rs118.256 billion development budget under Public Sector Development Programme which include Rs12.177 billion Foreign Fund Projects Assistance (FPA).

He said under the development budget, Rs50.875 billion would be spent on about 934 ongoing schemes where Rs57.381 billion had been earmarked for 1634 new projects.

He said the outlay of non-developmental funds for the next fiscal year 2020-21 would be Rs309 billion.

The minister said this time, the budget was being presented in a situation when coronavirus had engulfed the whole world and also affected Pakistan.

He said Balochistan government had taken comprehensive measures to streamline the resources of the province for coping with the negative effects of coronavirus and restoring economy.

He said health was among the priorities of the provincial government, adding the government had provided health professional allowance for those fighting against the Covid-19 at frontline besides announcing provision of two basic pays for health workers.

He also announced many development projects in health sector including establishment of Thalassemia center at Gwadar, new blocks at Sheikh Zaid Hospital for cancer patients, and other projects.

The minister also announced recruitment on around 6840 posts lying vacant in the province.

He said agriculture was the backbone of the provincial economy, however locust was having negative impacts on it, therefore Rs500 million had been earmarked for eradicating the...