The Punjab budget debate ended in Lahore, with Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman defending provincial allocations and criticising the opposition in the Punjab Assembly.
Rehman said the Leader of the Opposition had spent five days debating the budget without preparation. He said the opposition was unaware of the actual funds allocated for proposed projects.
The finance minister said the Punjab government utilized 93% of its development budget during the current fiscal year. He said the province achieved 99% of its revenue target. Rehman said the government allocated Rs556 billion for 387 schemes in South Punjab.
He said Rs38 billion had been earmarked for the Katcha riverine areas. The minister said Rs29 billion was allocated for the Health Card, Rs12.5 billion for the Kisan Card and Rs5 billion for the Dhee Rani Programme.
Read: Punjab budget to be presented to the assembly on June 13
He said the Health Card programme had not been closed. Rehman said the programme had been redesigned to make it more effective and efficient. The minister rejected opposition corruption allegations as baseless.
He also said the opposition’s political situation would not improve until it apologised for the May 9 incidents.
