Punjab Cabinet, which met here Friday with Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in the chair, unanimously accorded approval to the budget proposals 2019-20 and the Finance Bill 2019. The cabinet meeting also approved supplementary budget 2018-19 and revised estimates for the financial year 2018-19. It also decided to impose a ban on transfer of funds of three Southern Punjab divisions to any other area. It was decided that the funds allocated for Southern Punjab will be exclusively utilized for the same purpose.

The chief minister Usman Buzdar and the provincial ministers voluntarily announced a 10-percent cut in their salaries and the Chief Minister commended the performance of provincial finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, advisor Dr Salman Shah, chief secretary, chairman P&D, secretary finance and others.

He said, "Our financial team has completed the difficult phase of budget preparation with hard work and we are thankful to them. The budget made by the PTI government is meant for the welfare of the common man and their welfare has been given importance."

Despite difficult circumstances, steps have been proposed to provide relief to the general public in accordance with the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and the Punjab budget depicts the PTI manifesto, he added.

The CM said that the balanced development of all the areas has been given importance in the new budget along with recommendations of necessary steps for the betterment of social sector. For the first time, durable steps have been proposed to develop the human resource in the province, he said, adding: "The incumbent government has taken solid steps for the development and prosperity of southern part and other remote hinterlands."

Usman Buzdar said that realistic targets have been set in the new budget and the priorities are selected keeping in view the basic necessities of the common man. "This budget is not jugglery of figures but a realistic document of balanced public development. The solid foundation of the durable development has been laid in the province," he said.

Secretary finance briefed the cabinet members about the salient features of the provincial budget and annual development program. Cabinet members also presented their proposals and the Chief Minister signed the budget documents. Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary and concerned secretaries attended the meeting.

Moreover, CM Sardar Usman Buzdar attended the budget session in the Punjab Assembly and felicitated the finance minister Hashim Jawan Bakht for presenting a balanced public-friendly budget.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019