The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has proposed Rs205 billion for Annual Development Program and Rs60 billion for merged tribal districts in budget 2021-22 having a total outlay of Rs1000 billion.
Taimur Salim Jhagra, Finance Minister KP would present the third successive budget of KP Government at Provincial Assembly at 3pm on Friday.
KP Government is likely to announce 25pc increase in the salaries of Government employees and officers from Grade1-18 and Govt is likely to bear Rs50 billion burden after an increase of salaries.
Minimum wages would also be increased upto Rs 21,000 to facilitate daily wage and labour workforce.
No new tax is proposed in the budget, however some reforms, modification and adjustments in the existing taxes would be made to increase revenue and bridge the gap between expenditure and revenue generation for FY 2021-22.
The rovincial revenue is being enhanced to record Rs 53 billion in FY 2020-21 against Rs42.3 billion in 2019-20, registering Rs11.3 billion increase.
Moreover, devolopment expenditure has mounted to Rs205 billion in the current financial year against Rs171 billion in 2019-20, having an increase of Rs34 billion despite COVID-19.
The devolopment budget of merged areas’ is being enhanced from Rs 24 billion per year to a record Rs60 billion per annum.
As many as seven new energy and power projects amounting to Rs5.3 billion is being proposed for merged areas to strengthen its infrastructure and electricity distribution system. Following successful completion of 332 mini macro hydropower projects, Energy and Power Department has proposed construction of additional 672 MMHPs amounting USD 237 million for ADP 2021-22 for which a loan agreement has been signed with Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Work on seven different hydropower projects having cumulative power generation capacity of 214MW including Koto 69MW, Karora 11MW, Jabori 10MW, Matioltan 84 MW, Lawi 69MW, Capri Charkhel 10.2MW and Barando 6.5MW with a potential of annual income of Rs8 billion would continued in next fiscal year.
Three mega hydropower projects (HPPs) amounting to Rs177.244 billion including 96 MW Batakundi costing Rs40 billion, 188MW Naran of Rs70 billion in Manshera district and 20.8MW costing Rs7.224 billion in Shangla district would be developed with collaboration of International Finance Corporation (IFC).
Seven hydropower projects including Malakand-III 81 MW, Daral Khawar 36.6MW, Ranolia 17 MW, PEhur 18 MW, Machai 2.6MW, Shishi 1.8MW and Reshun 4.2 MW with a total power generation capacity of 161.2MW have been commissioned, which would generate about Rs5.4 billion revenue per year. The 300MW Balakot HPP amounting to Rs85 billion approved by Executive Committee of National Economic Council (ECNEC) was ready for groundbreaking.
Gabral Kalam and Madyan projects PC-1 having power generation capacity of 245MW has been approved by ECNEC that would be constructed with an estimated cost of Rs115 billion through a World Bank’s loan and the process of land acquisition and award of contract was in the process. KP Government has approved 300 doctors for merged areas for prompt healthcare facilities to ailing tribesmen. Sehat Plus Cards program are being strengthened after 7.2 million families were provided cards and now the facility was extended to the entire population of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa with their CNICs as their health cards.
KP Government has decided to include liver transplant and bone marrow treatment in Sehat Cards Plus Program. A mega development agriculture package focusing on increasing of horticultural land, meat and poultry production besides issuance of Kisan (farmers) cards by August this year to farmers under Prime Minister National Agriculture Emergency Program is proposed in ADP 2021-22.
Under Agriculture Trabsformation Plan, 150 moisture meters would be installed to ascertain level of moisture level in lands.
Transfer of tube wells on solar energy, research on different varities of vegetables, establishment of Agriculture Mart at Peshawar, promoting aquaculture technology for increase fish production, establishment of livestock and animal husbandry University at Swat was also proposed for ADP 2021-22.
As many as Rs3.3 billion have been spent out of Rs12.5 billion allocated for seven gigantic agriculture and livestock projects under three years accelerated implementation programme in the merged areas.
KP Government has decided to allocate funds for ongoing 10 billion trees afforstration project besides strengthen of forestry and wildlife programs in merged areas.
Shelter homes project would be strengthened and social welfare department, Pakistan Baitul Mall and others relevant departments besides philanthropists would be included to provide shelter to poor and needy people especially during harsh weather.
