The Punjab finance department has invited budget proposals for the fiscal year 2020-21 from the general public through an email or post, and they can give suggestions on the sectors prioritized by the government.

"The department has made an email account (budget.ro@punjab.gov.pk) for this purpose. In this connection, the govt has published advertisements and a list of the priority sectors on its website, which include environmental protection, economic revival, health, hygiene, investment, and employment opportunities and social protection," said Punjab Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakhat while chairing a review meeting of budget-making here on Saturday.

He said the inclusion of the public in the budget-making process is an attempt to make the budget more transparent and at the same time revive the public trust in government institutions. "The budget is an administrative matter but the general public is its major stakeholder. The government relies on tax collected from the public for its expenditures and it will be more appropriate that the people should know where their money is spent," he added. Punjab Finance Secretary Muhammad Abdullah Khan Sumbal informed the meeting that the budget section was reviewing the proposals and the public can submit their suggestions and proposals by May 20.