Salient features of Sindh budget 2012-13

KARACHI: The salient features of Sindh annual budget for the year 2012-13 are the following.

1. The budget is without any new taxes, duties, fees, charges and fines whatsoever.

2. The total outlay of the budget for FY-2012-13 is estimated at Rs 577.98 billion as against the budget estimates of Rs 457.54 billion for the current fiscal year.

3. Receipts of the province are estimated at Rs 570.81 billion for FY 2012-13 with 24.5 percent increase over the budget estimates of Rs 458.42 billion during the current fiscal year.

4. Federal receipts projected at Rs 381.9 billion as against Rs 323.18 billion in the current fiscal year.

5. Provincial own receipts are estimated at Rs 96.63 billion for FY 2012-13 which is 21 % increase over the budget estimates of  Rs 79.90  billion of FY 2011-12.

6. Sindh Revenue Board is expected to achieve its target of Rs 25 billion in the current fiscal year. In the next year, it is estimated to collect Rs 32 billion; an increase of 28 percent over current fiscal year estimates.

7. In FY 2012, Sindh Bank will payout its maiden dividend of Rs one billion to Government of Sindh.

8. Current Revenue Expenditure is projected at Rs 315.30 billion which is marginally higher than Rs 309.45 billion during the current fiscal year.

9. The unprecedented development outlay of Rs 231.17 billion is 63.8 percent over the budget estimates of Rs 141 billion during CFY.

10. The estimated provincial development expenditure of Rs 231.7 billion includes 181 billion from provincial own resources, Rs 35 billion through ADP- assisted Flood Emergency Reconstruction Project (FERP) and through other foreign assistance projects and Rs 14.51 billion through federal grants.

11. An unprecedented allocation of Rs 644.84 billion for Development Budget in the tenure of the present Government compared to cumulative development spending of Rs 310 billion from 1947 to 2007 (60 years).

12. 20000 jobs are proposed to be created in FY 2012-13 in addition to 17000 jobs created during the current fiscal year. Over 100000 jobs provided during last four years.

13. A massive Rs 111.96 billion allocated for education. This includes Rs 12.39 billion for development schemes. It is 164 percent increase over the allocation in FY 2007-08. Proposed development spending for education is five times the allocation of Rs 2.5 billion in 2007-08.

14. Huge outlay of Rs 49.52 billion budget for health which includes development schemes of Rs 14.8 billion. This is almost three times the budget for health service in the fiscal year 2007-08. The proposed development spending on health is six times the allocation of Rs 1.4 billion in 2007-08.

15. Rs 485 million for pay package of regular and student nurses, midwives and LHVs has been announced during the current fiscal year.

16. Rs 39.30 billion have been allocated for Sindh Police in the next financial year.

17. For purchase of APCs, transport, plant and machinery and arms and ammunition and installation of surveillance cameras, Sindh Police was provided funds of Rs 4.7 billion during the current fiscal year.

18. Rs 1.5 billion pay package announced for Sindh Police in the current fiscal year. This includes fixed daily allowances, risk allowance and enhancement of constabulary allowance and ration allowance.

19. Justice Law Courts to receive Rs 3.48 billion in fiscal year 2012-13. During the current fiscal year, for facilitation of Judiciary Rs 19.08 million provided for purchase of hardware, Rs 4.61 million for plant and machinery and Rs 367.74 million for purchase of transport.

20. ADP of Rs 8 billion has been kept for irrigation and drainage in FY 2012-13, which is more than twice the allocation of the current fiscal year.

21. Coal continues to be a priority on development agenda. Rs 13.585 billion provided in ADP of 2012-13.

22. The Government of Sindh is planning to set up 100 MWs power plant under PPP mode at Nooriabad. At present 26 projects of wind energy with installed capacity of 1800 MWs are in progress.

23. For clean drinking water, Rs 8.5 billion has been allocated for the next financial year. Rs 11.58 billion provided during current financial year.

24. Agriculture to get Rs 13.69 billion including ADP of Rs I0.9 billion. In current financial year the allocation was Rs 3.25 billion.

25. Allocation for development schemes of minorities enhanced to Rs 720 million from Rs 110 million in the current fiscal year, that is an increase of 650 percent.

26. Under the Wassela-e-Haq Programme 34000 families in low income bracket would be provided Rs 300,000 interest free loan.

27. Sindh Financial Control and Delegation of Financial Powers Rules 2012 to replace outmoded existing delegation of power rules 1962.

28. Group Life Insurance benefits of the government employees have been doubled.

29. Rs 2.4 billion cash development loans retired during the current fiscal year. This amount to be utilised by Federal Government on NHA projects in Sindh.

30. A huge amount of Rs 22.66 billion was spent on rain affected areas during the current fiscal year. This includes Rs 4.71 billion spent on immediate relief of rain affected people, Rs 12.89 billion on Pakistan Card, Rs 870 million on public health services and Rs 720 million on irrigation.

31. To boost agriculture productivity, subsidy on 6000 tractors was provided in the current fiscal year. In the next fiscal year, the Government will provide subsidy for 15000 tractors.

32. Quota of women for recruitment in government jobs has been enhanced to 25 percent from the existing 5 percent.

33. Rs 2.3 billion have been allocated for restoration/ rehabilitation of LBOD and Kotri Drainage Network System including activation of dhoras (natural water courses).

34. Rs 1.5 billion is reserved for provision of Natural Gas to towns and villages in Sindh.

35. Rs 1.015 billion have been earmarked for Village Electrification Programme in Sindh (Phase-IV).

36. Rs 2 billion grant in aid proposed for SlUT.

37. Allocation of Rs 1.0 billion each proposed for K-IV and S-Ill (water) projects.

38. Rs ll.08 billion is proposed to be placed for allocations under MPA's Priority Programme with Rs 60 million for each MPA.

39. An allocation of Rs 2.0 billion has been proposed to be kept for agriculture, credit line for small farmers at 7 percent interest subsidy through Sindh Bank.

40. An allocation of Rs 300 million is earmarked for Micro finance for enterprise development through STEVTA and Sindh Bank.

41. Hyderabad-Badin Road, Jhirk- Mulakatyar Bridge and Grain Silos project to be undertaken under PPP Mode.

42. Government of Sindh to consider injecting 20 percent equity in the project company for collection of toll and up-gradation of M9 (Super Highway) Project.

Copyright APP (Associated Press of Pakistan), 2012