Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar chaired the 30th provincial cabinet meeting at his office here on Monday to approve the budget proposals for the financial year 2020-21 with consensus. It also approved financial bill 2020 along with supplementary budget and revised estimates for 2019-20. The meeting also endorsed decisions made in 29th cabinet meeting along with the approval of decisions made in the 32nd, 33rd and 34th meetings of cabinet standing committee on financial development. Similarly, decisions made in the 23rd, 24th and 25th meetings of cabinet standing committee for legislative business were also approved. Secretary Finance apprised the participants about salient features of provincial budget and annual development program. Ban on transferring southern Punjab’s development funds to some other project or city will remain intact as the cabinet approved ringfencing of three southern Punjab division’s development funds in the new financial year. The CM congratulated Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht, Advisor Dr Salman Shah, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D, Secretary Finance and others for their role in budget making. Steps have been proposed for public relief despite difficult circumstances resulting due to coronavirus pandemic and in this backdrop, it is very balanced and a public-friendly budget, he added. The CM maintained that realistic targets have been fixed and priorities have been identified according to public needs. It is a realistic document for balanced development and not jugglery of worlds, he said. On the other side, he lamented that the opposition is only engaged in making hue and cry and left the people alone. The CM assured that continuous liaison will be maintained with the assembly members. Ministers, advisors, special assistants, CS and administrative secretaries attended the meeting.
