Federal Minister of Finance and Revenue Ishaq Dar said that the government has allocated Rs42 billion for the elections and he doesn’t see any reason for delay in this regard.
The finance minister made this comment when asked about JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s statement about the general election in the country that is due later this year.
Also Read: Govt Employees to get 35% salaries hike in Budget 2023-24
“We have allocated funds and there should be no delay in elections 2023. The federal cabinet has done its part which also has JUI-F ministers,” Ishaq Dar said while denying such reports.
“Our allies have the right to speak. They did not say anything unconstitutional,” he said, adding that if leaders of two parties had said so, the matter will be discussed.
However, he said, delaying the election is not unconstitutional and there is scope for it in the constitution.
The finance minister’s remarks came during a post-budget presser in the federal capital.
MAJOR POINTS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
- GDP growth target set at 3.5 percent
- No new taxes for the upcoming year
- IT sector being granted SME status
- Export Council of Pakistan established for export sector
- 10pc regulatory duty removed on used cloths
- Remittance Cards for overseas Pakistanis
- FBR Revenue Target at 9200 billion PKR
- Non-Tax revenue target at 2963 billion
- Non-filer to be charged 0.6pc tax on withdrawal of Rs50K from bank
- Super tax on annual income of more than Rs500 million
- 35pc increase in salaries of govt employees
- 100 pc increase in special conveyance allowance
- 17.5 percent increase in pensions
- Tax on credit card payments at restaurants slashed by 10%
- Minimum wage proposed at Rs32,000
MAJOR ALLOCATIONS IN BUDGET 2023-24
- Rs65bn allocated for higher education commission
- Rs70bn allocated for HEC’s development expenditure
- Rs2709 billion for PSDP
- Rs1150bn allocated for development
- Rs1559bn for provincial development programme
- Rs32.5bn for KP’s newly-merged territories
- Rs28.5bn for AJK and Giligit Baltistan’s development
- Rs244bn for Tourism Development Programme
- Rs82bn for Education
- Rs26bn for health
- Rs50bn for manufacturing sector
- Rs244bn for social development programme
- Rs1804 billion allocated for defence
- Rs10bn allocated for PM Laptop Scheme for students
- Rs5bn allocated for women empowerment programme
- Rs5bn allocated for PM-Specialised Training Programme for Youth
- Rs450bn allocated for BISP
- Rs10bn allocated for PM’s Youth Loan Programme
- Rs6bn allocated for Benazir Undergraduate Scholarship
- Rs35bn allocated for Utility Stores
- Rs4bn granted to Bait-ul-Maal for medical treatment of poor
- Provinces to get Rs5276 billion
- Rs761billion for pension
- Rs17.5billion for Karachi’s K4 programme
- Rs161bn for transport sector
- Rs34bn allocated for Science And IT sector
- Rs1bn allocated for health insurance of working journalists