Punjab Budget 2022-23 has been unveiled by the new government. The cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz agreed a substantial increase of 30% in salaries of the government employees from grades 1-19 in the budget for the fiscal year 2022-23. Moreover, a 15% disparity allowance will also be given to the employees of some departments. Also, the government announced 15% increase in pensions in response to the proposed hike of 5%. The decisions were taken in line with the federal government.
Read more: Miftah Ismail says no increase in wages of government employees
For the fiscal year 2022-23, the 3.226 trillion budget is termed as ‘Roshan Rahay Naya Sawera.’
Maximum relief would be given to common man in Punjab Budget. Special attention has been given to health, agriculture, education and government employees. We're coming up with a balanced budget that favours the underprivileged classes. @HamzaSS#روشن_راہیں_نیا_سویرا pic.twitter.com/WmEtgshjao
— PMLN (@pmln_org) June 13, 2022
Employees working in the secretariat and the Chief Minister’s house will receive an increase of only 15% in pay.
As per budget documents, a proposal to release Rs900 million for women’s development projects has been agreed, while Rs19.5 billion has been allocated for local government. Furthermore, the cabinet passed a proposed allocation of Rs164.26 billion for projects concerning infrastructural development. As well as Rs80.77 billion has been allocated for road construction under the budget
In addition, to the approval of Annual Development Program 2022-23, the cabinet also approved the MOU for the provision of free medicines to cancer patients. Today, cancer is a widely spreading chronic disease and its treatment as well as the medication is quite expensive. Such a measure under the new budget would provide some financial relief to the cancer patients.
Prevailing situation in the country is showing its consequences in the form of closures, redundancies, and failure to afford necessities.
There has been a tremendous rise in inflation in these couple of months as the annual inflation rate in Pakistan increased to 13.8 percent in May of 2022 from 13.4 percent in the previous month. Alarmingly, further price hikes are expected in near future which can cause further erosion of the economy. Amidst the chaos, such an increase in budget 2022-23 salaries can be a ray of hope for surviving through the situation.