Lahore: Punjab budget for the next financial year with a total outlay of 5,335 billion rupees was presented on Monday. Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman presented the budget in Punjab Assembly in Lahore.

According to Radio Pakistan, the finance minister announced that no new taxes have been levied, making it a tax-free budget. A major highlight of the budget is the allocation of 1,240 billion rupees for the Annual Development Programme, marking a significant increase of 47.2 percent compared to the current financial year.

The finance minister announced a 10 percent increase in the salaries of Punjab government’s employees from Grade 1 to Grade 22. He also announced an increase in the minimum monthly wage from 37,000 rupees to 40,000 rupees. He said that a target of 828.145 billion rupees has been set for provincial revenues, including 524.7 billion rupees in tax revenue and 303.4 billion rupees in non-tax revenue.

The Minister further detailed that the revenue target includes 340 billion rupees for the Punjab Revenue Authority, 9.7 billion rupees for Energy and Transport, 105 billion rupees for the Board of Revenue, and 70 billion rupees for Excise and Taxation. He emphasized the allocation of 181 billion rupees for the health sector, focusing on improving healthcare infrastructure and services across the province. Additionally, 336 billion rupees have been allocated for infrastructure development.

Earlier, the Punjab Cabinet, at its meeting chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in Lahore, approved the budgetary proposals for the next fiscal year.