The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, has presented its maiden budget for the fiscal year 2024-25.
The budget, amounting to over Rs1.75 trillion, marks a substantial increase in allocations across various sectors.
Presenting the budget in the provincial assembly, KP Minister for Finance Aftab Alam highlighted the key features of the financial plan.
The province’s receipts are projected at Rs1754 billion, while total expenditures, including current and development expenditures, are set at Rs1654 billion, reflecting a surplus of Rs100 billion.
Development Priorities and Allocations:
The budget proposes a Rs120 billion Annual Development Program (ADP) for the upcoming fiscal year.
This includes allocations of Rs120 billion for the provincial ADP, Rs24 billion for district ADP, Rs36 billion for merged districts ADP, and Rs79.29 billion for the Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP).
In education, a total of Rs362.68 billion has been allocated, marking a 13% increase compared to the previous fiscal year.
This includes Rs35.82 billion for higher education, with plans for establishing 30 degree colleges and over 350 schools in rented buildings.
The health sector has been allocated Rs232.08 billion, a 13% increase from the previous year.
The budget includes provisions for an air ambulance service and the establishment of a Satellite Centre for Peshawar Institute of Cardiology in the southern districts of KP.
For law and order, Rs140.62 billion has been earmarked, which represents a 12% increase compared to the last fiscal year.
Additionally, the PEHL 911 project is set to be launched under the Home Department.
KP budget 2024-25:
The budget also focuses on various other sectors:
- Social Welfare: The budget for the Social Welfare Department has been increased to Rs8.11 billion, a 6% rise, while the shelter homes program’s budget has been doubled to Rs600 million in the merged tribal districts.
- Industries, Agriculture, and Tourism: Rs7.53 billion has been allocated for industries, Rs9.66 billion for tourism, including projects like the heritage school and tourism helpline, Rs28.93 billion for agriculture, which includes an olives project, and Rs31.54 billion for the energy sector, with plans to establish the KP distribution company and the Batakundi-Naran hydro project.
- Livestock and Forestry: The budget includes Rs14.69 billion for livestock and Rs14.05 billion for forestry, with the launch of the billion trees plus project.
Other Significant Allocations:
In addition to these, the budget also proposes Rs12 billion for the Ehsas Employment Program, Youth Program, and Skills Program.
Rs10 billion has been allocated for the CRBC Lift Canal project, Rs26.90 billion for wheat procurement, Rs6.50 billion for road construction, Rs2.50 billion for emergency works, and Rs3 billion for the Ehsas Own House Program.
The health sector will receive Rs10.97 billion for the purchase of medicines, and Rs28 billion has been set aside for the Sehat Card Plus program, benefiting the settled districts and Rs9 billion for the merged tribal districts.
Salary and Pension Reforms:
The KP government has announced a 10% increase in the basic pay of its employees and pensioners, as well as an increase in the minimum wage to Rs36,000 from the existing Rs32,000.
The budget, with its focus on development, public welfare, and economic growth, aims to bring about a positive impact on the lives of the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
All set for KP 2024-25 Budget. Extensive exercise by Finance Dept, P&D and CM Secretariat. Ali Amin Gandapur, Chief Minister KP himself supervised the entire budget making exercise. Discussed more than 1900 projects, including 288 new projects. More than 100 meetings in Finance… pic.twitter.com/x3Xzl5Bfwl
— Muzzammil Aslam (@MuzzammilAslam3) May 23, 2024
