Punjab budget: Rs7.96 bn earmarked for local govts

LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs 7.960 billion for ongoing and new development schemes of Local Government and Community Development Department for the fiscal year 17-18. The allocation is almost 77 percent more than the current year fiscal allocation of Rs 4.5 billion.

Total Rs 2.794 billion have been allocated for the ongoing development schemes out of which Rs 2.715 billion have been allocated for regular schemes and 78.513 million for miscellaneous schemes.

Similarly, Rs 4.165 billion have been allocated for the new development schemes out of which Rs 941.286 million have been specified for regular schemes, 1.470 billion for the Local Government Programme, Rs 491.840 million have been allocated for miscellaneous schemes and Rs 1.263 billion specified for Prime Minister’s SGDs Programme. Moreover, one billion rupees have been allocated for the development schemes under the head of Other Development Programme.

The new initiatives of the next fiscal year include establishment of Shehr-e-Khamoshan Authority, establishment of Model Cattle Markets in different districts of the province, rehabilitation of dangerous buildings inside Walled City Lahore, elimination of ponds from major villages of Punjab. Construction of union council office buildings in Punjab and construction and development of landfill sites in Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Sahiwal, Lahore and Faisalabad are also included in the new initiatives of the next fiscal year.

The Local Government has also set some targets for financial year 2017-18 including up-gradation and modernisation of 155 graveyards in the province, filling of 50 ponds for eradication of vector diseases in Punjab, establishment of multipurpose parks on the reclaimed land of ponds, upgradation of PLGA into centre of excellence and construction of children learning centre and park in Narowal city.