Sindh announces raise in salaries in Rs1.24tr, tax free budget.

Karachi -- Sindh government, on Wednesday, unveiled a Rs 1.24 trillion tax-free budget with a deficit of Rs18.38 billion for the fiscal year 2020-21, only 1.9 percent increase from the last year budget estimates of Rs.1.21 trillion.

Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah, who also holds the portfolio of provincial finance minister, presented the budget before the provincial assembly amid protest from opposition parties. In his budget speech, CM Shah announced that the salaries of Grade 1-16 government employees would be increased by 10 percent, while those of Grade 17-21 would receive a 5 percent raise. The upward revision, however, would not be applicable to provincial ministers and Sindh cabinet, he added.

Murad Ali Shah told the House that that no new tax had been introduced in budget 2020-21 and the increase in non-development expenditure was restricted to only seven percent.

He said that the increase in non-development expenditure was mainly due to provision of `COVID-related pro-poor 'Social Protection and Economic Sustainability' package of Rs34.2 billion and rise of Rs19 billion in health sector and Rs22.9 billion in education sector from current year's budget allocations. The CM said that the agriculture department budget was increased by 40 percent to Rs.14.84 billion mainly due to subsidy package for small farmers and locust control. 'The Sindh government has allocated Rs.440 million for locust control,' he said.

The chief minister said that the health department budget was raised by 16.1 per cent to Rs.139.18 billion to counter COVID-19 Pandemic and Infectious Diseases. 'Health Risk Allowance at the rate of one basic pay will be provided to all Health personnel including postgraduate and house job officers engaged in dealing with COVID-19 cases with effect from March, 2020,' he announced.The chief minister said that the education department budget was augmented by 10.2 per cent to Rs.243.14 billion for quality education and to cope up the post pandemic academic challengesHe said that the grants to local councils was increased by five per cent to Rs.78 billion in the next budget.

The chief minister said that under...