Punjab Rs2.24tr 'progressive, pro-business' budget.

Rs391b allocated for education sector Punjab Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Javan Bakht on Monday presented the budget 2020-21 in the Punjab Assembly with a total outlay of Rs2.2407 trillion.

In his budget speech, Provincial Finance Minister said that an overall amount of 337 billion rupees is being allocated for Annual Development Program for next fiscal year. Under this program, 97.66 billions rupees have been allocated for social sector, 77.86 billion rupees for infrastructure development, 17.35 billion rupees for production sector, 45.38 billion rupees for services sector, 51.24 billion rupee for other sectors, 47.50 billion rupees for Special Program while 25 billion rupees for Public Private Partnership.

He said that special funds on priority basis have been allocated for eleven important sectors including education, health and employment generation.

The provincial government has proposed to allocate Rs8.73 billion for the forest department. Furthermore, Rs13.30 billion has been allocated for the livestock sector, meanwhile, Rs31.73bn has been allocated for agriculture sector.

'The provincial tax collection record an increase of 13 percent, whereas, Rs144bn were distributed among the needy under the Ehsaas Program,' said Bakht. A sum of Rs391 billion have been allocated for education sector and Rs 3 billion have been allocated for Danis schools. A handsome amount of money has been allocated for the upgradation f schools, while, Rs37 billion have been allocated for the higher education.Over 1 billion have been allocated for Hunnermand Program, while Rs 6.87 billion have been allocated for vocational training of youth.

A total of Rs2 billion have been allocated for religious tourism and setting up new tourist centers, whereas, the salary budget has been frozen at Rs337.60bn.

The entertainment duty rate is proposed to be reduced from 20pc to 5pc. All cinemas are proposed to be exempted from entertainment duty till June 30, 2021.

A total of Rs 337 billion has been allocated for the development...