ISLAMABAD – The Azad Jammu Kashmir Council passed its budget of Rs 9.007 billion for 2010-2011 and revised estimates for 2009-2010 worth Rs 6.251 billion on Thursday.
Minister in charge of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Secretariat, Mian Manzoor Ahmad Wattoo, while presenting the budget, said the share of AJK government was 66per cent of the total budget which is 50per cent higher than that of the last year.
He further mentioned that against the target of Rs 3.85 billion income tax collection, Rs 5.352 billion was collected during the financial year 2009-10, almost 40 per cent higher. Wattoo said the operational budget of Rs 5.870 billion was 10 per cent of the total budget as against 12 per cent during the last financial year.
The budget includes 50 per cent raise in the basic pay of employees of AJK with affect from July 1, 2010, in accordance with the financial relief given by the government of Pakistan to its employees. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani appreciated the efforts of Manzoor Wattoo, the members of the council and the Azad Jammu Kashmir government for proper and efficient management of the funds.
