The Balochistan government has postponed the presentation of the province budget for the financial year 2023-24 till Monday, from Friday.
The budget presentation was postponed because MPAs and provincial cabinet members offered new initiatives and urged that the Planning and Development Department look at them, according to Dawn. If there are no additional delays, Finance Minister Zamarak Khan is slated to introduce the budget.
“All MPAs from opposition parties, ministers, and even chief minister’s coordinators were making efforts to get the maximum share in the current coalition government’s final budget,” said a senior government official. He further stated that MPAs and ministers were attempting to get money for current projects against the CM’s directives for new development projects.
Balochistan’s budget is estimated to be Rs. 700 billion, with Rs. 200 billion going to uplift programs and Rs. 450 billion going to the NFC program. With the impending budget for MNAs and senators, the Chief Minister has already said that the provincial government lacks the means to sponsor new projects.
Non-development spending will account for the majority of the budget and is projected to rise as the provincial administration aims to raise wages by 30-35 percent. A three-figure budget loss is also projected since the administration could not meet its aim for producing provincial resources.
