QUETTA: The Balochistan government has allocated Rs 28.93 billion for education, a 15 per cent increase when compared to last year’s fiscal budget, out of the total Rs 289 billion provincial budget.
The provincial budget for fiscal year 2016-17, which has a total deficit of Rs 36.48 billion, was presented by Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri here in the Balochistan Assembly.
Zehri announced during the budget speech that 14,000 students from the province will be given scholarships in national and international educational institutions.
He said that 80 primary schools will also be upgraded to middle school level. Three medical colleges would be established in Khuzdar, Loralai and Turbat and 70 middle schools were suggested to be upgraded to high school in different areas of the province.
For the current fiscal year, the provincial government has allocated more than Rs 17 billion for the health sector, out of which Rs 1.57 billion will be spent for provision of free medicine to poor and needy patients.
The provincial government has allocated Rs 71 billion under the Public Sector Development Programme while Rs 218 billion have been earmarked as non-development budget.
Zehri also announced a 10 per cent increase in the salaries of government employees and said that the minimum salary has been increased to Rs 14,000.
The provincial government has allocated Rs 10 billion for provision of clean drinking water to Quetta while Rs 7.4 billion have been allocated for overall betterment of the agricultural sector.
The provincial government has suggested allocation of over Rs 30.25 billion for law and order, out of which Rs 880 million will be spent for procurement of weapons, vehicles and modern equipment for Police and Levies force.
