Muzaffarabad: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Dr Najeeb Naqi has presented the budget for fiscal year 2018-19 with a volume of PKR 108.2 billion.
PKR 25.2 billion has been allocated for development, against PKR 23.27 billion the previous year. The government has also proposed an increase in non-development expenditures, including higher salaries and pensions.
The finance minister announced 10% increase in basic salaries and pensions. PKR 53.37 billion will be provided by the federal government for development projects in the region.
In his budget speech, the finance minister said that PKR 10. 38 billion have been allocated for roads and communication, while PKR 1.9 billion has been allocated to provide electricity to the 90,000 people of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
The Power Development Organisation (PDO) will get PKR 2.43 billion, Physical Planning and Housing will receive PKR 2.22 billion, while Rehabilitation Department will have PKR 100 million.
Furthermore, PRK 280 million will be spent on ongoing projects by Ministry of Commerce, PKR 150 million allocated for AJK TEVTA, PKR 20 million has been allocated for transport, and PKR 200 million for projects to be implemented by the Youth and Culture Ministry.
Other spending includes PKR 500 million for agriculture, PKR 550 million for forests, wildlife and fisheries, and PKR 60 million for Environment Protection Agency. The government has also proposed to allocate PKR 250 million for tourism, PKR 40 million for the Press Information Department, PKR 100 million for Social Welfare and Women Development Department, and PKR 230.5 million for the Information Technology Board, with a total of PKR 1.95 billion for education.
