Lahore: The Punjab government has budgeted PKR 685 billion for the development sector in the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23), news sources reported on June 13. The funding will be used to finance universal health care, education, water and urban infrastructure, and gender development projects.
Reportedly, the government has set aside a sizable budget for universal healthcare and the establishment of Tehsil Healthquarters (THQs) across the provinces. In this regard, the government has allotted a total of PKR 174.9 billion, compared to PKR 115.86 billion in FY22. The government will spend the following sums:
Healthcare
PKR 1.6 billion of the total budget on Integrated Reproductive Maternal, Newborn & Child Health and another
PKR 1.6 billion on the establishment of Nursing In-Tertiary Care Hospitals
PKR 1.3 billion on the revamping of DHQs
PKR 1.16 billion on Population Welfare House, SCM, and Advocacy
Education
The provincial government has allocated PKR 56.2 billion for the education sector of which:
PKR 4.8 billion is for the afternoon school program
PKR 2.5 billion for the establishment of universities in five major cities in Punjab
PKR 1 billion for retrofitting partially dangerous school buildings
PKR 500 million for the construction of shelter-less schools in Punjab
PKR 500 million for the provision of missing facilities in schools
PKR 400 million for the establishment of four special education centres
PKR 100 million for the construction of additional classrooms
Moreover, due to the austerity drive by the government to manage the budget, the government has allocated PKR 74.3 billion for urban development, water supply and climate change. In addition, the development budget for energy, environment, and climate change has been lowered to PKR 10 billion from PKR 20 billion in FY 2021-22. The Punjab Emergency Service’s development budget has been significantly increased this fiscal year, with PKR 1,800 million allocated, up from PKR 1,100 million in FY 2021-22. With this budget, new vehicles and motorcycles will be purchased for the emergency services, and five new emergency services will be established.
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