LAHORE - Responding to a question finance secretary Tariq Bajwa said that government tabled Rs57 billion supplementary budget before assembly and got approval of it. He said that out of Rs57 billion supplementary budget, Rs33 billion was spent under the head of salaries and pensions which was raised by 50 per cent in the last budget while another Rs24 billion was consumed on different projects, as their cost was increased due to inflationary trend in the country. He accepted that budget allocation for education is not enough as compared to the regional countries, however, keeping in view of Tax-to GDP ratio, this amount is sufficient. Regarding revenue collection, he admitted that Punjab failed to achieve the revenue target particularly regarding levy on luxury vehicles and clubs, as they moved the court. However, we have made several amendments in this regard and are now hopeful that next year the govt will collect considerable amount from this head. He said that this year govt could collect just few millions under the head of tax on luxury vehicles, clubs and swimming pools. The budget earmarked 32 percent of the total outlay for the Annual Development Programme (ADP) Rs250 billion as against 34 percent of the current fiscal year. However, this ADP has registered a raise of 13.6 percent against the concluding years ADP of Rs220 billion. The finance secretary said Rs2 billion subsidy would be given on public transport. In this regard the govt will ploy around 1200 new busses under Punjab Urban Transport System all over the province.General public expenditures of the Punjab government increased from Rs269.697 billion in 2011-12 to Rs305.300 billion in next fiscal. The police budget has been increased from Rs59.825 billion to Rs62.251 billion.






