AJK Council's budget presented

ISLAMABAD (APP) Minister for Kashmir Affairs Qamar Zaman Kaira Tuesday presented AJK Councils balanced budget of Rs 6755.55 million for financial year 2009-10.
He also presented revised estimates of Rs5000.127 million for the year 2008-09.
Presenting second budget of AJK Council for the year 2009-10 here, Qamar Zaman Kaira said pay and allowances and pension have been increased of the employees of AJK Council Secretariat while scholarship programme has been launched for Jammu and Kashmir State subjects.
Moreover, presenting current years budget, the minister proposed revenue receipts target of Rs6755.555 million for this financial year.
This target includes Rs3850 million from Income Tax collection out of which 80% will be transferred to AJK government.
The development expenditure has been estimated at Rs.2000 million, non-development expenditure at Rs.807.273 millon and 80% net share of Income Tax to be returned to AJK government is Rs.2948.282 million.
Besides, out of the revenue receipts, payment of Rs.800 million as difference of their 80 % net collection of Income Tax for the year 2008-09 and Rs.200 millon as refund of deductions made against the loan of Rs. 1.4 billion will also be made.
The total expenditure has, therefore, been estimated at Rs.6755.555 million for the year 2009-10.
The AJK government fixed the targets of Central Excise Duty, Education Cess, Sales Tax and other Provincial taxes and duties and the proceeds from these taxes/duties are deposited directly into the account of AJK government without deduction of any service charges.
The Council bears the operating expenses of the department from its own budget. It is a matter of pleasure that an amount of Rs.2104.608 million has been realized against the target of Rs. 1591.00 million through the dedicated efforts of our tax collections.
Qamar Zaman Kaira said the financial incentives and relief given to the employees of the government of Pakistan are invariably allowed to the employees of the AJK Council.
The government of Pakistan has revised the Pay and Allowances of its employees w.e.f. July 1, 2008. Hence, the AJK Council has adopted the same for its employees on the same lines from July 1, 2008.
He said the AJK Council Secretarial has launched a merit based scholarships/stipends programme for the J&K State Subjects. In all
230 students of 14 disciplines would be awarded scholarships/stipends of Rs.10,000 per student from this programme on annual basis.
The 207 J&K State Subjects students studying in various educational institutions of Pakistan/AJK have, therefore, been granted scholarships/stipends amounting to Rs. 2.07 million for the academic session 2008-09.
He said the Council will shortly launch another project called Acquisition of Land for the Construction of Colony for 2000 Kashmiri Refugee Families at District Narowal-Punjab in difference to the directive of the Prime Minister of Pakistan.
A token allocation of Rs.10 million has, thus, been kept for the purpose.
He also proposed to repeat the development outlay of Rs.2000 million for the Financial Year 2009-10 due to financial crunch. The Members Development Programme has, however, been increased from Rs.205 million to Rs.310 million. This amount includes Rs.28 million for the Prime Minister of AJK for the first time.
An amount of Rs. 56 million has also been kept for the schemes to be identified by the Advisors to the Chairman, AJK Council.
President and Prime Minister of AJK, and members of the AJK
Council also attended the session.