PESHAWAR: The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf-led provincial government was presenting its maiden budgetary plan for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with an outlay of Rs 344 billion for the 2013-14 financial year, of which Rs. 211 billion have been allocated for current revenue expenditures which is 10 per cent more than the outgoing fiscal.
The session was being addressed by provincial finance minister Sirajul Haq.
The minister said the budget had been divided to satisfy tasks pertaining to welfare, development and administration.
The budget allocates Rs 118 billion to the Annual Development Program (ADP).
Under the budget, the PTI-led KP government will introduce 531 new schemes in addition to the ongoing 565 which had been set in motion by its predecessor.
The minister said that Rs. 83 billion have been allocated for Provincial Development Programme (PDP) which is 12 per cent more than the approved estimates of the current fiscal year.
The PDP, he said, is comprised on 983 projects including 609 ongoing and 374 new, saying more funds were allocated for ongoing projects to ensure its timely completion.
The budget moreover allocates a record massive Rs.66.60 billion to the education sector. Rs. 22.80 billion have been allocated for the health sector followed by Rs. 23.78 billion for the police department, Rs. 3.12 billion for the irrigation department, Rs. 1.97 billion for promotion of technical education and manpower training, Rs. 2.91 billion for the agriculture sector, Rs.1.27 billion for environment, Rs. 4.93 billion for communication and works sector, Rs 0.24 billion for pension and Rs.11.16 billion for debt clearance.
The budget also proposes a subsidy of Rs 2.5 billion on wheat without imposing any additional taxes.
The government has also decided on a 15 per cent increase in the salaries of government employees falling within the Grade 1 to Grade 16 bracket. Moreover, there would be a 15 per cent increase in the pension of retired government workers.
The minister also said that Rs. 35 billion under head of foreign assistance is expected in the current fiscal year.