Budget of PKR 2.16 Trillion Presented by Punjab

The estimated total budget outlay being announced by the government of Punjab is 6.65% higher than the previous outlay of the financial year 2018-19. It is recently learned that Punjab is putting its major attention on the infrastructure as well as the social sectors. At least 55% of the total budget can be used for the development of the province.

The agenda of salary deduction of provincial ministers have been sent for final approval. As per the move of the Federal government, the provincial government is ready to deduct 10% from the salaries of the ministers.

PTI-led government had promised that they will uplift the ignored southern part of Punjab, therefore in the Budget 2019-20, the provincial government seems to be interested in working for south Punjab. The provincial government informed the news sources that they will do ring-fencing of the development funds of three different divisions of the southern Punjab i.e. Multan, Bahawalpur and Dera Gazi Khan.

It is expected that the cabinet will approve the supplementary grants for the 2018-19 just before going to the Punjab Assembly’s budget session.

The Budget 2019-20 is all about expansion of taxes and collection of maximum revenue, it is planned to approve the rules under section 5 and 76 of the Punjab Sales Tax Act 2012. The government of Punjab is currently expecting its huge share of PKR 1.5 trillion from the federal pool which is expected to be PKR 1.27 trillion before.

As per the sources, the government of Punjab is expecting PKR 368.7 billion from provincial tax and non-tax receipts for the upcoming financial year 2020-21.