Experts term Punjab budget 2016-17 pro-people

LAHORE: Heads of various leading trade organizations and finance experts on Monday termed the Punjab budget 2016-17 pro-people and business-friendly.

Talking to APP, Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) Chairman Coordination Malik Sohail Hussain said that the Economic Growth Strategy (EGS) had been drafted in the budget and its main targets were to increase the economic growth of the province from 7 to 8 per cent by 2018,and enhance the exports to 15 per cent.

Commenting on the budget, Punjab Parliamentary Secretary for Health Khawaja Imran Nazir said that salient features of the budget was to create jobs for the youth , double the private investment in the province by 2018, eliminate terrorism to ensure protection of life and property of the citizens.

Khawaja Imran Nazir said that Punjab budget 2016-17 was a developmental budget in which increase in growth rate, public friendly tax collection system, social welfare projects, health, communication and strong polices for better performance of important departments besides practical implementation has been introduced.

Pakistan Crop Protection Association (PCPA) Chairman Saad Akbar Khan said that revolutionary measures had been announced in the budget for addressing the problems faced by small farmers and development of agri sector and special attention had been paid for providing a business-friendly environment and increasing the export.

Hall Road Traders Association President Babar Mehmood said that it was a historic budget which would help in stabilizing the provincial economy.

"The budget would help control price-hike and no sector of public welfare has been neglected," he added.

Babar said that the Punjab government, instead of new schemes, has focused on ongoing projects so that these are completed at the earliest and common man can benefit from them.

Punjab PML-N Traders Wing Senior Vice President Khawaja Khawar Rasheed said that Finance Minister Dr Ayesha Ghaus Pasha has prepared a very balanced budget in the current circumstances.