Punjab Cabinet approves 2012-13 budget

Lahore—A meeting of Punjab cabinet was held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif at Minar-e-Pakistan tent office, here today, which gave formal approval to the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2012-13. The meeting also gave approval to the finance bill and revised estimates of provincial budget 2011-12. Secretary Finance Tariq Bajwa informed the meeting about the salient features of the budget for the year 2012-13.

The meeting was informed that deduction in the salaries of provincial cabinet members has been enhanced from 25% to 30%, whereas their quota of petrol has been cut into half. The objective of this initiative is to enhance resources through austerity and spend them on the welfare of masses. The Chief Minister while addressing the meeting thanked the assembly members, Planning & Development Department and Finance Department, provincial secretaries and other concerned officers.