F.P. Report
PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sardar Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has said that the provincial government, despite difficult financial situation, has presented truly welfare and pro-poor budget with a surplus of Rs. 100 billion, in line with the party vision prioritizing education, health, social protection, economic development and wellbeing of general public.
He has lauded the efforts of all provincial departments especially Finance and Planning and Development for preparing such a brilliant budget, adding that all the departments, now would have to work with the same dedication and passion, in order to ensure implementation of reforms and public welfare initiatives proposed in the new budget.
Addressing the participants of special (budget) meeting of the provincial cabinet, held hare at Civil Secretariat Peshawar, the Chief Minister directed that all the departments would have to ensure progress on welfare projects proposed in the new budget as per stipulated timelines.
The Chief Minister said that special attention has been given to increasing revenue stream of the province by enhancing working capacity of the departments. Throw forward of annual development program has been decreased from 13 years to 6 years, which will resultantly ensure timely completion of development projects in the province, he said an added that we will have to focus on improving governance system and boosting the sectors lagged behind for any reason.
He maintained that the provincial government is introducing reforms that will not only help in steering the province out of current financial crunches, but will also benefit the upcoming generations as well. Similarly, he said that the provincial government has decreased the provincial taxes levied on land mutation, adding that the federal government should also decrease the federal taxes in this regard. Initiatives to reduce the disparity between rich and poor, would also be taken; the tax money collected from rich classes, would be spent on vulnerable segment of the society.
Initiatives have also been proposed in the budget to keep the tax rate low but to increase the tax net, so as to meet the budgeted expenditures without increasing burden on people. Besides, significant funds would be spent from province own sources on the development of merged districts.
He said that volume of our arrears owed to the federal government is increasing day by day, but we continue to raise our voice to get the due rights of the province and all the available options would be utilized for this purpose.
