Balochistan okays Rs900bn budget without opposition

Published June 29, 2024
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti attends the budget debate in the provincial assembly on June 28. Photo via X/@PaBalochistan
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti attends the budget debate in the provincial assembly on June 28. Photo via X/@PaBalochistan

QUETTA: The Balochistan Assembly on Friday passed the provincial budget of Rs900 billion, including Rs321 billion for the Public Sector Deve­lopment Programme (PSDP), for the financial year 2024-25, without any opposition despite some cut motions being included in the agenda, no member moved a cut motion on the demands for grants.

Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani presented a total of 93 grant demands to the house during the session, which was presided over by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. Of the 93 grant demands, 53 grants were for non-development expenditures and 40 for development spending.

Although the opposition leader, Mir Younis Aziz Zehri, and other opposition members were present in the house, no one moved a cut motion. Some opposition members, including the opposition leader, had submitted cut motion notices, but none of them moved any, resulting in all grant demands being approved without opposition.

Mir Asadullah Baloch, President of the Balochistan National Party-Awami, who had boycotted the finance minister’s budget speech on June 21, was absent from the house on Friday as well.

Rs321bn for uplift projects

The government has allocated Rs321 billion for development projects, including new and ongoing schemes.

In the non-development budget, the highest allocation of Rs92.6 billion was made for secondary education, followed by Rs84.80bn for retired employees’ pensions and benefits, and Rs51.33bn for police and Balochistan Constabulary.

The house also approved Rs37.81 billion for local bodies and urban development, Rs22.71bn for the Balochistan Levies force, Rs67.26bn for the health sector, and Rs22.81bn for colleges and higher education.

Additionally, the house approved Rs13.50bn for capital investment and Rs17.2 billion for communication works and physical planning for the next financial year.

‘Ready for talks’

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, speaking in the assembly after the passage of the provincial budget, said the government is ready to hold talks with everyone.

He said the issue of peace and security in Balochistan is a serious concern and that any conflicts must be resolved through dialogue.

“The state and government are ready to talk to everyone, but will not allow any armed group impose its ideology at gunpoint.”

Published in Dawn, June 29th, 2024

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...
Islamabad protest
Updated 20 Nov, 2024

Islamabad protest

As Nov 24 draws nearer, both the PTI and the Islamabad administration must remain wary and keep within the limits of reason and the law.
PIA uncertainty
20 Nov, 2024

PIA uncertainty

THE failed attempt to privatise the national flag carrier late last month has led to a fierce debate around the...
T20 disappointment
20 Nov, 2024

T20 disappointment

AFTER experiencing the historic high of the One-day International series triumph against Australia, Pakistan came...