LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that Punjab budget is the budget of austerity and saving and added that PTI leadership has started this austerity policy upon them. We have made maximum deductions in the CM Office budget by making 58 percent decrease in the operational expenses of CMO. The PTI government has made a new example by making only a 2.7 percent increase in recurring expenditures. Ten to 20 percent decrease in non-salary, operational, M&R and other heads is a proof of practical measures for austerity. Unnecessary expenditures have been ended and repair and maintenance of personal residences in the name of security have been ended now as 28 crore rupees were spent for that purpose. The number of security officials has been decreased from 2000 to 500 and I don’t have any camp office, private residence or any other office in Lahore like past traditions. We are the custodian of the national exchequer and public money will be spent on public welfare.
He was addressing the Punjab Assembly session after final approval of the 2019-20 budget. The Chief Minister announced to give three months salary as an honorarium for assembly staff and said that 47 percent more funds have been allocated for the ADP as compare to the previous year. Instead of personal projection projects, human resource development has been focused according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and we will come up to the trust of Prime Minister Imran Khan. I, first of all, thank Almighty Allah for bestowing the honor of representing the people and grant us the opportunity to serve the people. Today is a historic day when the first formal budget of the PTI government has been approved and I extend congratulations to the whole of the house and finance minister and his team also deserves congratulation.
Speaker Punjab Assembly Ch. Pervaiz Elahi ran the house in an amicable way and I also congratulate him. The Islamic welfare state is our destination and Bahimat Program is being started for citizens over 65 years under Punjab Ehsaas Program. Hum Qadam program is being started for disabled people and Sarprast program is being introduced for widows and orphans. Similarly, Musawat program is also being introduced for hapless segments besides introducing Nai Zindgi program for the restoration of women suffering from acid throwing.
Kheraj-e-Shuhada program is being introduced for financial aid of the families of those who became victim to terrorism. He said that we are going to give the biggest development budget in the health sector which is around 46 percent. We are constructing nine new hospitals and program is also underway to provide best treatment facilities to 70 lac families in quality private hospitals through Sehat Insaf Cards in 36 districts. He said that remote villages have been included in the journey of development through Naya Pakistan Manzalian Asaan and 1500 kilometer long carpeted roads are being made under it. He said that PTI government has set up shelter homes in Lahore, Rawalpindi and other districts for homeless passengers and this would be extended to divisional and district level in phases and shelter homes will also be set up in hospitals. Punjab government has opened 177 rest houses in the province which would promote tourism besides generating revenue.