UNS: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Friday presented the budget of the province for fiscal year 2024-25
Speaker Awais Qadir Shah presided over the session in which the CM unveiled the budget with a total outlay of Rs3.056 trillion.
As the chief minister started his speech, the opposition shouted slogans and wanted the chief minister to deliver the budget speech in Urdu. However, the CM seemed unfazed by the disturbance and powered through his speech in English.
The budget, the CM said, is focused largely on providing relief to the flood-stricken masses and social protection.
Education and Health Sectors
The education sector has been given Rs519 billion whereas health sector will get Rs334 billion. A significant attention, the CM stressed, has been paid to increase the amount for these sectors.
Grants for Universities
As for grants, Rs35 billion have been allocated for major universities of the province.
Foreign Project Assistance
Rs334 billion have been reserved for the foreign project assistance.
Local government and Interior Department
Moreover, Rs329 billion have been reserved for the local government whereas the interior department of the province would get Rs194 billion.
Salaries increased upto 30pc
The provincial government has announced up to 30 per cent increase in salaries of government employees with no new tax in the budget 2024-25. The minimum salary has been fixed at Rs37,000.
Pensions increased by 15pc
The provincial government has increased pensions by 15 per cent. Minimum wages will be proposed to increase equal to those of federation and Punjab.
Developmental Projects
Rs959 billion have been earmarked for public sector development projects. Rs12 billion reserved for Karachi mega schemes.
Relief for Flood Victims
The chief minister said the most important demand of the flood victims was the construction of houses on which the government started the process in 2023.
He said through the private sector, financing of 7,700 houses has been completed. But, he said the total number of houses to be built would be 2.1 million.
Taxes
It has been proposed to fix the transfer fees of cars for Rs5, 000. The professional tax would be enhanced from Rs500 to Rs2, 000.
A few other sectors include: For works and services, Rs86 billion have been reserved. Rs56 billion earmarked to bring improvement in the transport sector.
Meanwhile, for irrigation Rs94 billion and Rs77 billion for irrigation and energy sectors. Also, for agriculture and housing schemes, Rs58 billion and Rs25 have been reserved.
Earlier, the Sindh Cabinet gave approval for proposals contained in the Finance Bill 2024-25 to be presented in the Sindh Assembly.
Giving a briefing on the upcoming budget, Energy Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said the PPP government wanted to give relief to the salaried class and poor people in the budget.
He said President Asif Ali Zardari and PPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto wanted that the increase in the salaries should be proportional to inflation.
“Providing water facilities and low-cost electricity to the people of Sindh are the top priorities in the budget and Bilawal Bhutto wishes that no new tax be imposed on the people,” he said.
Karachi mega schemes worth Rs12 billion will be included in the budget. A new portfolio in the provincial development programme will be introduced instead of new schemes. The target of provincial revenue collection will be enhanced. Rate of different taxes will be changed.
The provincial government has decided to purchase fewer vehicles in the next financial year. Austerity measures will be adopted in purchasing furniture and other items. Video conferencing will be promoted for the meetings to reduce expenses on official visits abroad.
Last year, the Sindh government had passed Rs2.25 trillion budget for 2023-24, proposing a massive hike in salaries in line with the federal budget and a significantly higher development expense of Rs700 billion, which accounts for 31 per cent of the outlay.
