Salient features of KP budget FY25

The PTI-led Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government Friday unveiled Rs1,754 billion annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25, with a promise of 100,000 jobs for the locals.

KP Minister for Finance Aftab Alam presented the budget in provincial assembly.

Here are the key features of finance bill:

The provincial government proposed Rs120 billion Annual Development Program (ADP) for the next financial year.

As many as Rs416.30 billion announced under head of development expenditure including Rs120 billion for provincial ADP, Rs24 billion for district ADP, Rs36 billion for merged districts ADP and Rs79.29billion for Accelerated Implementation Program (AIP).

The government proposed Rs12 billion for Ehsas Employment Program, Youth Program and Skills program.

Presenting the budget at floor of the House, the finance minister said that 5,000 new houses would be constructed under Ehsas Own House Program for which Rs3 billion announced.

Likewise, Rs10 billion earmarked for CRBC Lift Canal to irrigate three lakh acres lands, launching of Tank, Chodran and Daraban dams, allocation of Rs26.90 billion for wheat procurement, Rs6.50 billion for construction of roads, Rs2.50 billion for emergency works, construction of Dir and DI Khan motorway under public private partnership mode, construction of road to link DI Khan with Hakla motorway and 470 megawatt Lower Spat Gah project.

Education sector

For education sector including high education, the KP government announced Rs362.68 billion for the next financial year which is 13% more compare to last fiscal year.

Similarly, Rs35.82 billion set aside for higher education that was 11% more than last financial year. Besides establishment of 30 degree colleges and over 350 schools in rent buildings, the government of KP also proposed Rs326.86 billion for elementary and secondary education.

Heath

Similarly, Rs232.08 billion proposed for health sector in financial year 2024-25 which was 13% more compare to last fiscal year while air ambulance service and Peshawar Institute of Cardiology’s Satellite Centre for southern districts of KP announced.

Besides proposing Rs10.97 billion for purchase of medicines, Rs28 billion earmarked for Sehat Card Plus program for settled districts and 9 billion for merged tribal districts.

The minister said that Rs1 treatment for each family under universal health coverage provided for around 40 million people including 52% women population.

Law and order

For law and order, the provincial government announced Rs140.62 billion for improvement of law and order which is 12% more as compare to last fiscal year while PEHL 911 project was being launched in home department.

Social welfare

The budget of Social Welfare Department increased to Rs8.11 billion which is 6% more while shelter homes program budget jacked up to Rs600 million against 300 million in last fiscal year in merged tribal districts.

Industries, agriculture and tourism

Similarly, Rs7.53 billion for industries, Rs9.66 billion for tourism with a project of field heritage school and tourism helpline 1422, Rs28.93 billion for agriculture with olives project, Rs31.54 billion for energy sector with establishment of KP distribution company and launching of Batakundi-Naran hydro project to produce 235 megawatt announced in budget 2024-25.

In addition to this, the provincial government proposed Rs14.69 billion for livestock and Rs14.05 billion for forestry with launching of billion trees plus project.

Salaries and pensions

The KP government announced 10% increase in basic pay of its employees and pensioners besides increased minimum wages to Rs36,000 from existing Rs32,000.

The total receipts of the province is pitched at Rs1754 billion while total expenditure including current and development was Rs1654 as the present budget which was Rs100 billion surplus.