QUETTA: The Balochistan government on Friday unveiled its budget worth Rs584 billion for the fiscal year 2021-22 with a total development outlay of Rs237 billion without imposing a new tax.
The budget session in the Balochistan Assembly commenced at least two hours after the scheduled time, amid chaotic scenes as opposition lawmakers protested over what they claimed as unfair distribution of funds. Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and other government lawmakers were also present in the session.
During his speech, Balochistan Finance Minister Zahoor Ahmed Buledi said the government has allocated Rs3.6 billion to combat coronavirus pandemic, whereas, the province aims to vaccinate all citizens. The government employees will get a salary raise up to 10 percent, announced the finance minister.
Rs500 million will be spent for the expansion of the children hospital, he added. The government announced to end slip system from all state-administered hospitals across the province. Rs5.5 billion is allocated for the health insurance card program by the provincial government.
“Rs200 million is allocated for the construction of two new hostels in Bolan Medical College; more than 200 government schools will be upgraded; Rs112 billion for ongoing development schemes while the budgeted development outlay is Rs189.19 billion for the new fiscal year,” he added.
Salient features
- Non-development expenditures will be Rs346.861 billion
- Rs237 billion allocated for development schemes
- No new tax is imposed in the provincial budget
- 5,000 new vacancies will be generated in the new fiscal year
- Rs71 billion allocated for education sector
- Rs52 billion allocated for law and order
- Govt to establish a high school, Centre of Excellence
- Surgical towers will be built in Civil Hospitals
- Establishment of training centres for prisoners in Machh jail
- Rs5.5 billion for health insurance program
- Rs2.2 billion for Balochistan Enterprise Development
- Rs2 billion support fund for differently-abled persons
- Rs3 billion for Apna House Fund for government employees
- Rs500 million for minorities welfare fund
- Rs500 million for women economic empowerment
- Rs3 billion for Balochistan pension fund
- Rs2 billion for Balochistan Public Endowment Fund
- Rs11 billion for upgrading District Headquarter Hospitals (DHQs)
- More than 100 government schools will be upgraded
Opposition protest
Balochistan Assembly witnessed chaotic scenes on Friday after opposition lawmakers staged a sit-in outside the assembly and locked all its entrance gates with chains. The disgruntled lawmakers were protesting to stop the provincial government from presenting the budget.
The lawmakers also clashed with the police after they attempted to disperse them and smashed the main entrance gate of the assembly building with armoured vehicle. Resultantly, three BNP MPAs — Babu Abdul Raheem, Ahmed Nawaz and Shakila Naveed Dhewar – and one JUI-F MPA, Abdul Wahid Siddique sustained injuries.
Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan and other ministers and MPAs of the ruling coalition entered the assembly hall using the UBL bank gate entrance. During the stampede, the chief minister was also hit with a flower pot as police resorted to baton-charge and tear gas to disperse the protesting lawmakers.
Meanwhile, workers of main opposition parties – Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam, Balochistan National Party and Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party – blocked nearly all highways in a protest against “the neglect of opposition constituencies in the provincial budget”.
The workers of the parties staged sit-ins at all national highways, including highway in Chaman, Quetta-Karachi International Highway, Zhob-DI Khan, Gwadar coastal highway.
