Budget 2017-18 for Pakistan occupied Jammu and Kashmir (POJK)

The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in Pakistan occupied  Jammu and Kashmir (POJK) presented on Thursday its budget for the fiscal year 2017-18.

The budget was presented by AJK Minister for Finance and Planning Dr Najeeb Naqi in the legislative assembly.

The total volume of the budget is Rs94.41 billion with more than Rs12 billion as deficit . Current expenditures amount to more than Rs71 billion.

For the first time, the budget allocated Rs23.28 billion for development projects whereas Rs71.13 billion has been allocated for non-development schemes.

Out of the total development estimates 39 percent has been allocated for communication, 15 percent for power generation projects, 9 percent for local government and rural development, 8 percent for foreign funded projects, 7 percent for physical planning and housing while 22 percent for other sectors. He said 86 percent funds have been allocated for the ongoing 154 schemes while 32 percent for new development schemes.

The total income of the government during the next fiscal year has been estimated as Rs82 billion from which Rs20.8 billion has been estimated for its own resources, taxes share from Pakistan Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Council is expected to be Rs14.3 billion, an amount of Rs1.3 billion has been estimated in the head of Mangla water use charges, while share from federal divisible pool has been estimated at Rs26 billion.

The government allocated 22551 million rupees for education and 6626 million rupees set aside for the health sectors.

30 billion rupees has been reflected as part of federal development program. Medical Colleges Muzaffarabad and Mirpur and Kairan-Lesswa By Pass road are part of Federal Development Program.

There would be 10 percent raise in salaries and pensions of government employees while the minimum monthly wages of laborers and industrial workers would now be Rs15000.

Rs71,130.000 billion has been proposed in the Finance bill for Recurring Expenditure which includes General Administration 2328.050 million, Board of Revenue Rs794.653 million, Stamps Rs16.000 million, Land Record and Settlement Rs27.075 million, Relief and Rehabilitation Rs741.710 million, Pension Rs11,000.000 million, Public Relations Rs125.850 million, Administration of Justice Rs1291.980 million, Home (Police) Rs4897.830 million, Jails Rs173.540 million, Civil Defence Rs120.540 million, Armed Service Board Rs61.350 million, Communication and Works Rs3320.760 million, Education Rs22551.418 million, Health Rs6626.105 million, Sports, Youth Culture and Transport Rs69.140 million, Social welfare and Women Affairs Rs269.770 million, Agriculture Rs655.090 million, Animal Husbandry Rs633.300 million, Food Rs211.219 million, State Trading Rs1500.000 million, Forests Rs861.540 million, Cooperative Rs58.820 million, Electricity Rs6563.600 million, Local Government and Rural Development Rs492.550 million, Industries, Labour and Mineral Resources Rs127.080 million, Printing Press Rs55.860 million, Sericulture Rs80.280 million, Tourism, wildlife and Fisheries Rs141.864 million, Miscellaneous (Grants) Rs4590.186 million, Capital Expenditure Rs600.000 million. An income of Rs 71,130.000 million has been Expected from various departments and resources which includes Provincial Taxes Rs6300.140 million, Land Record and Settlement Rs99.090 million, Stamps Rs220.290 million, AJ&K Transport Authority Rs25.000 million, Armed Service Board Rs15.000 million, Administration of Justice Rs152.910 million, Home (police) Rs62.010 million, Jails Rs0.180 million, Communication and Works Rs217.660 million, Education Rs155.010 million, Health Rs343.140 million, Agriculture Rs5.110 million, Wild Life/ Fisheries Rs26.750 million, Animal Husbandry Rs30.000 million, Forests Rs312.750 million, Electricity Rs12 million, Printing Press Rs52.000 million, Industries and Labour Rs65.000 million, Sericulture Rs3.280 million, Minerals Rs5.000 million, Tourism Rs19.920 million, Religious Affairs Rs40.870 million, Miscellaneous Rs541.570 million, Income from Kashmir Council Rs14,300.000 million, Share of Federal Taxes Rs26,000.000 million, Grant-in-Aid for Revenue Deficit Rs13,000.000 million, Water usage charges Mangla Rs1,300.000 million, Adjustment Overdraft Rs 4270.000 million.

An amount of Rs21,480.000 million has been allocated for Development sector which is doubled as compare to last fiscal year. The Finance minister declared it a big achievement of the present government. Giving details of the Development expenditure the minister stated that for Agriculture/ Livestock Rs490.000 million, Civil Defence Rs100.000 million, Development Authorities Rs135.000 million, Education Rs1700.000 million, Environment Rs60.000 million, Foreign Aided Projects Rs1897.000 million, Forestry, Fisheries, Wildlife Rs550.000 million, Health Rs769.000 million, Industries & Minerals Rs380.000 million, Transport Rs20.000 million, Information & Media Development Rs40.000 million, Information Technology Rs225.000 million, Local Government & Rural Development Rs2005.000 million, Physical Planning & Housing Rs1525.000 million, Power Rs3520.000 million, Research and Development Rs174.000 million, Social welfare & Women Development Rs100.000 million, Rehabilitation & Resettlement Rs100.000 million, Sports, Youth and Culture Rs200.000 million, Tourism Rs250.000 million, Communication and Works Rs9040.000 million, Foreign Aid Rs1800.000 million has been allocated.