LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that provincial budget 2019-20 is the budget of austerity and saving.
He said this while addressing the Punjab Assembly session on Friday, says a handout issued here.
He said: "We have made maximum deductions in the chief minister's office budget by making 58 per cent decrease in the operational expenses of the office."
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government had made a new example by making only 2.7 per cent increase in recurring expenditures, he added.
The CM said unnecessary expenditures had been ended whereas repair/maintenance of personal residences in the name of security had been ended now as 280 million rupees were spent for the said purpose.
Usman Buzdar said the number of security officials had been decreased from 2,000 to 500 and he did not have any camp office, private residence or any other office in Lahore like past traditions.
The chief minister said: "We are the custodian of the national exchequer and public money will be utilized on public welfare."
He further announced to give three months salary as an honorarium for the assembly staff and said that 47 per cent more funds had been allocated for the ADP as compare to the previous year.
The CM said, "Toady is a historic day when the first budget of the PTI government had got approved and I extend congratulations to the entire house and the finance minister and his team also deserves congratulation."
"Islamic welfare state is our aim and "Bahimat Programme" is being started for citizens over 65 years under "Punjab Ehsaas Programme", he maintained.
The CM said: "Hum Qadam programme was being started for disabled people and Sarprast programme was being introduced for widows and orphans".
Similarly, "Musawat programme" was also being introduced for helpless segments besides introducing 'Nai Zindgi programme' for the restoration of women suffering from acid throwing.
'Kheraj-e-Shuhada programme' was being introduced for financial aid of the families of those who became victim to terrorism, he added.
He said: "We are going to give the biggest development budget in the health sector which is around 46 per cent."
The chief minister said: "We are constructing nine new hospitals and programme is also under way to provide the best treatment facilities to 7 million families in quality private hospitals through 'Sehat Insaf Cards' in 36 districts.
He said remote villages had been included in the journey of development through 'Naya Pakistan Manzalian Asaan' and 1,500 KM long carpeted roads were being made under it.
The PTI government had 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 would also be set up in hospitals, he maintained.
Sardar Usman Buzdar said the Punjab government had opened 177 rest houses in the province which would promote tourism besides generating revenue.
The target of 2.5 million homes had been fixed under 'Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme' during the next five years and six new universities would also be set up in the province.
Baba Guru Nanak University would be set up in Nankana Sahib while 35 per cent development budget had been fixed for southern Punjab, he added.
He said that he had visited jails and issued directions to improve the facilities for prisoners while two months remission in the sentences of prisoners had been given for the first time in Punjab.
He said agri reforms had been introduced and farmers were issued agri credit cards for their facility while new agriculture policy had been implemented in Punjab.
New labour policy had been formulated and the laws had been introduced for the safety of workers and domestic servants, he maintained.
The CM said new allotment policy had been formulated for the allotment of houses to industrial workers in labour colonies.
He said the Punjab government had fulfilled the promise of giving allowance to engineers and doctors and police allowance was being enhanced as well.
He said 13 cabinet meetings had been held and 1,600 agenda items had been given approval.
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