ISLAMABAD: The allocation for Benazir Income Support Progamme (BISP) has raised to Rs. 124.7 billion for the fiscal year 2018-19.
Presenting the Budget speech on Friday, Federal Minister for Finance Miftah Ismial said, the incumbent government has increased beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), from 3.73 million in 2012-13 to 5.6 million as on 31st December 2017.
He stated that stipend under the program in 2013 was a mere Rs. 3,000 per quarter for each beneficiary which had raised to Rs 4834 per quarter till the current fiscal year, adding that facilitating masses at grass root level is the key objective of the government.
Rs 44.7 billion for AJK, GB:
Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail said an amount of Rs 44.7 billion has been proposed for Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan.
In the Federal Budget speech 2018-19 in the National Assembly, for the people of AJK we announce a special project of Lipa Tunnel construction which will facilitate the local population.
“For Fata Rs 24.5 billion have been proposed. To bring Fata in the mainstream, a ten-year Fata development plan with total outlay of Rs 100 billion has been approved,” he said and added during 2018-19 Rs 10 billion are proposed to be provided.
Desalination plant in Karachi:
Federal Minister for Finance Mufta Ismail Friday said the Federal government would execute a new scheme of sea water desalination plant for the citizens of Karachi.
Giving budget speech in National Assembly, the minister stated that this plant would be built by the private sector and produce 50 million gallons of water per day.
He said “Karachi is suffering from a severe water crisis. To solve this long-standing problem, In-Sha-Allah it will be my honour to play a vital role in solving the water problem for my city. For this purpose, the Federal government will bridge the viability gap in partnership with private sector.”
The minister said the federal government was ready to run buses for Karachi mass transit system. The government had restored peace and revived financial activities in the port city, he added.
Published in Daily Times, April 28th 2018.
