Budget balanced, says minister

LAHORE:Punjab Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Affairs Ejaz Alam Augustine has said that the PTI government has presented a people-friendly, pro-business, growth-oriented and a balanced budget for financial year 2021-22. He said that the federal budget would largely benefit the middle and poor segments of the society which proved the fact that PTI government under the leadership of Prime Minister Imran Khan was very much serious in boosting the overall economy as a stable economy ensures massive industrial growth thus creating huge job opportunities for the common man.

Talking to APP here Friday, he said the tax reliefs were given in the last budget and same approach had been adopted in the current budget of 2021-22. He maintained that the budget was focused on fiscal consolidation, revenue mobilisation while the government had provided maximum relief to vulnerable segment of the society.

The provincial minister said that federal budget 2021-22 covered all sectors of the economy to make sure that the country continued its journey on path of progress and prosperity. He added that the budget was also focused on the development of the social sector, besides introducing reforms for improving governance. The minister mentioned that salaried classes had also been provided relief by increasing salaries of the federal government employees by 10 percent.

He said that though the Pakistani economy had been under pressure for several years, especially during corona pandemic, the government had provided a reasonable relief to the lower classes.