PESHAWAR: Presiding a high-level consultative meeting on the provincial budgetary proposals and annual development programme, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister (CM) Pervez Khattak has said that his government is unveiling the 5th annual budget on the June 7, which is a well balanced, tax-free, pro-poor budget. The meeting took place at the Chief Minister House in Peshawar.
He said the provincial budget would be different from the federal budget which offered nothing to the poor but only incentivised the elite. Provincial Ministers, MPAs and Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Israr were attending. The chief minister added that the provincial government would enhance the salaries and fringe benefits of the salaried class. The government committed to building the capacity of the salaried class so they can empower the poor.
Khattak also referred to taking measures in the context of the CPEC which he believed would boom industrialisation in the province. Efforts were also being made to enhance the security level for the investors and speed up economic-oriented activities to create more jobs.
Pervez Khattak said that the forces of status quo were weakening in the wake of subversive efforts by the government, which took the power from the elite and gave it to the poor.
The chief minister also directed for the efficient management and development mechanism for the national parks in the province. The meeting approved the 3rd phase of the billion tree tsunami and approved 12 schemes for the food department. CM Khattak also gave a nod to 53 schemes for the youth in sports, tourism, culture etc.
The new budget would provide resources for completing Arbab Niaz Cricket Stadium on the fast track. However, resources for the creation of the facilities in the Rustam Sports Complex Mardan would be gradually increased. Work on 158 sports grounds has been initiated of which 85 are entering completion.
Pervez Khattak said that from the new fiscal year onwards, his government would restart giving a monthly stipend to the poets and literary figures of up to 30 thousand rupees per month. The meeting approved 78 schemes for various sectors. The project for solarisation of mosques was being shifted to the Energy and Power department which will have 28 ongoing and 26 new schemes. In the wake of the energy crisis, schemes in public health, street and road lights were being shifted to solarisation.