AJK presents Rs108.2b budget for 2018-19

MUZAFFARABAD: The AJK government Monday presented its Rs108.2 billion budget for the year 2018-19 with a development outlay of more than Rs25.2 billion with increase of Rs2.3 billion as compared to the last fiscal year.

The budget was presented by AJK Finance Minister Dr Najeeb Naqi in the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. The total volume of the budget is Rs96,280,000 million. As many as 10 percent raise has been suggested for giving raise to the government employees and retired ones in the budget and for this the government has allocated Rs82.7 billion while 50 percent raise is suggested in house and ad hoc allowances.

More than Rs4.37 billion is suggested for the development schemes under the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs while Rs49 billion for the development projects under different ministries. Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Dr Najeeb Naqi said it is the second largest budget presented by the PML-N government. The finance minister thanked PML-N Quaid Nawaz Sharif and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi for providing a huge amount for the AJK development.

The minister further said more than Rs82.7 billion allocated for the year 2018-19 expenditures while Rs25.5 billion for the development projects including Rs1.8 billion foreign aid. The minister informed the session that Rs10.38 billion has been suggested for the development of communication and infrastructure, adding which is 41 percent of the collective development budget.

As estimated Rs1.9 billion for the energy sector, Rs2.43 billion for Power Development Organisation (PDO), over Rs2.22 billion for physical planning and housing, Rs130 million for the compensation and rehabilitation of the LoC affectees, Rs202 million for the development department.

Likewise, Rs2.005 billion for the local government and rural development department, Rs1.3 billion for the prime minister community infrastructure development programme, Rs280 million has been suggested for the ongoing and new development schemes of the ministry of trade. Rs20 million for the transport department, Rs200 million for sports, youth and culture, Rs500 million for the agriculture sector development, Rs550 million for the forest and fisheries, Rs60 million for environmental protection, Rs250 million for tourism development, Rs40 million for the ministry of information, Rs100 million for social welfare and women empowerment, Rs23.5 million for information technology, Rs1.35 billion the education department, Rs600 million for Higher Education Department, Rs719 million for health sector.