QUETTA: Despite strong opposition protests, Jamal Kamal brilliantly managed to present the budget 2021 for the financial year.
Balochistan Awami Party presented the budget for the next financial year 22-2021 during the fierce protests of the opposition.
A meeting of the Provincial Assembly was held under the chairmanship of Balochistan Assembly Speaker Abdul Qaddos Bizenjo where Finance Minister Mir Zahoor Ahmed Baledi presented the budget.
Provincial Finance Minister Zahoor Ahmad Baledi in his budget speech said that it was an honor and pleasure for him to present the third annual budget of Balochistan Awami Party and its allies in Assembly. He said that Balochistan has low population and resources. This ratio of population and resources is a sign of good fortune for the development of any area.
He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Jam Kamal, we are moving in a positive direction of development and prosperity in the province, comprehensive measures are being taken to achieve economic and social goals and raise the living standards of the people.
He said that the budget for the next financial year 22-2021 is a continuation of the budget for the current financial year and in both these budgets the required resources were provided for controlling the corona virus and a huge amount was spent on the overall health system of the province.
He said that apparently the threat of Corona epidemic has not been averted but we have taken necessary steps in this regard and Rs 3.637 billion has been allocated in this regard for the next financial year 22-2021, in which the federal government has allocated a grant of Rs 2.937 billion.
He said that 5 new modern laboratories would also be set up in the province from the fund allocated in the budget.
Presenting the provincial budget, he said that the initial estimate of the total budget for the current financial year was Rs. 465.528 billion and the revised budget for the year 20-2021 has reached an estimate of Rs. 387.016 billion.
Talking about budget 21-2022, the provincial finance minister said that the total volume of non-development budget for the next financial year is Rs 346.861 billion while the total volume of development budget is Rs 189.196 billion and Rs 48.025 billion in terms of development grants apart from provincial development program.
He said that the total number of ongoing development schemes in the province is 1525 for which Rs. 112.545 billion has been allocated.
He said that the total number of new development schemes is 2286 for which Rs. 76.651 billion has been allocated.
Zahoor Ahmad Baledi said that more than 5,854 new posts have been created in various departments to create employment opportunities for the youth of Balochistan in the financial year 2021-22.
He said that the government has set aside huge amount of money for the promotion of investment in the province under public-private partnership and it will be further increased.
The Finance Minister announced that a lot of money has been allocated for health, education and employment which will bring revolution in Balochistan.
It may be recalled that before the budget session, the Balochistan opposition, following in the footsteps of the federal opposition, especially the PML-N, turned the Balochistan Assembly into a battlefield. Despite the order of the High Court, the roads leading to the House were closed. The administration broke down the gate with the help of an armored vehicle.
