Punjab budget: Rs 5.040 billion allocated for agriculture sector

* Total allocation of development of production sector set at Rs 250 billion
By Shabbir Sarwar
The Punjab government has allocated Rs 250 billion for the development of the production sector in the budget for the fiscal year 2012-13. Out of the total production allocation, Rs 5.040 billion is for the agriculture sector, Rs 11.25 billion for irrigation, Rs 1.65 billion for livestock, Rs 475 million for forestry, Rs 350 million for wildlife, Rs 250 million for fisheries, Rs 300 million for mines and minerals and Rs 350 million for industries.

Out of Rs 5.04 billion agriculture budget, Rs 4.5 billion would be spent on new schemes including Rs 3.4 billion on water management, while Rs 1 billion has been fixed for block allocations.

Out of Rs 11,250 million for the development of irrigation sector, Rs 4.39 billion would be spent on nine new schemes while the remaining amount on ongoing schemes. However, foreign aid of Rs 3,617 million would be utilised for the new and ongoing schemes in irrigation sector.

Out of Rs 1,650 million for the livestock sector, Rs 249 million will be provided for early completion of ongoing schemes while Rs 171 million will be consumed on the new livestock regular schemes in year 2012-13. Meanwhile, Rs 1,230 million will also be utilised for other expenditures relating to livestock sectors.

Out of Rs 350 million for the development of wildlife, Rs 153 million would be spent on three new schemes while Rs 197 million on seven ongoing schemes. However, no foreign aid would be obtained for these schemes. New schemes are Redesigning and Master Planning of Wildlife Park Bansra Gali, Murree, Veterinary facilities at Lahore Zoo Safari and Block allocation for new initiatives under wildlife sector.

Around Rs 3 billion have been fixed for providing up to Rs 50,000 soft loans to skilled people for self-employment scheme aimed at benefiting 50,000 houses of the province, as 3,500 families were supported under this scheme during the last year.

Punjab government has allocated an amount of Rs 300 million for mines and minerals for the fiscal year 2012-13. An amount of Rs 183.528 million has been allocated for the seven new schemes while Rs 116.472 million will be spent on the ongoing schemes of mines and mineral sector.

Out of Rs 250 million for the fisheries department, Rs 35.500 million will be consumed for the completion of ongoing regular schemes while Rs 214.500 million will be utilised for launching of new schemes in year 2012-13.

Out of Rs 2.4 billion for information technology, Rs 1.03 billion has been allocated for nine new schemes of Punjab Information Technology Board while Rs 1.3 billion will be spent on six ongoing schemes.

The Punjab government allocated Rs 34 billion under the head of subsidies out of which some Rs 27.5 billion have been set aside for wheat (flour) subsidy only. According to the budget statistics, as much as Rs 1 billion on public transport, four billion rupees on Ramzan package and 1.5 billion rupees on the Yellow Cab Scheme have been earmarked for subsidy during year 2012-13.

Daily Times

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