Taimur Jhagra presents KP budget with total outlay of Rs1.33 trillion

PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Finance Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra on Monday presented the provincial budget for FY 2022-23 with a total outlay of Rs1332 billion.   

Addressing the budget session of the KP Assembly, Taimur Saleem Jhagra said that the total outlay of the budget stands at Rs1332 billion. “Despite hurdles, we have earmarked Rs319.2 billion for the development portfolio of which only Rs8 billion will be received under the PSDP,” he said.

He announced a 16 percent increase in salaries of the government employees while pension was jacked up by 15 percent. The Shuhada package for police has also been increased in the budget.

Sharing a relief package for the government employees, he said that the ‘work from home’ policy will be launched for employees on Friday to mitigate the impact of fuel prices while fleet cards having fuel limits will also be given to the departments to avoid unnecessary waste of fuel resources.

Sharing details of appointments and permanent status to employees, the finance minister said that 675 doctors

and 58,000 NTS teachers will get permanent status while 600 nurses will be recruited in the next fiscal year. “Sehat bumper card is also being introduced for the government employees which will also include their OPD treatment,” he said.

Sharing further details of initiatives in the budget, he said that treatment for bone marrow transplant, thalassemia, and advance-stage cancer will also be added to Sehat card. “Four new medical colleges will be established in Dir, Buner, Charsadda, Haripur,” he said and added that youngsters will also be given loans worth around Rs25 billion.

He shared that the tax collection in the KP hiked to Rs75 billion from Rs31 billion. “Despite financial issues, we gave a development budget of Rs260 in FY2021-22 and spent 33 percent of it, contrary to Sindh and Punjab where 21 and 22 percent are spent respectively” he said.

He said that their government has produced 2.1 million job opportunities in the province. “World Bank data also proved that unemployment remained lowest during the three year tenure,” he said.