Federal budget proposes to build 100 sports stadiums across Pakistan

Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue and Economic Affairs Miftah Ismail on Friday proposed to build 100 sports stadiums all over the country on a cost-sharing basis with the provincial governments.

He said the Federal Government was also providing income support to more than 5 million families and has also allocated funds for Pakistan Bait Al-Mal and Poverty Alleviation Fund.

Three new schemes for Foreign Office

The government has allocated around Rs. 199.774 million for three new schemes of Foreign Office Division for the fiscal year 2018-19 in the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).

The budgetary allocation for three new schemes included Rs. 100 million for Consultancy Services for State Guest House and Conference Center Islamabad followed by Rs. 70 million for Construction of State Guest House and Conference Center Islamabad.

While an amount of Rs. 29.774 million has been reserved for Renovation of ISSI Building including procurement and Installation of Lift/Elevator Islamabad.

All the projects have been funded by the indigenous resources of the government and not a single penny has been taken as a foreign grant, revealed the budgetary document. 

Projects for SAFRON

The government has allocated an amount of Rs28,255.529 million for various new and ongoing projects of States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Division under Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2018-19. Under new schemes, the government has allocated an amount of Rs500 million for Bosaq Hydropower Project Bajaur Agency.

An amount of Rs24,500 million allocated as Block allocation Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) ongoing scheme.

Similarly, an amount of Rs1,117.338 million allocated for construction of Nahqi Tunnel Not make Agency, Rs1,318.801 million for Zyara to Dabori Road, Aurakzai Agency, Rs500 million for widening and improvement of Ghalanai, MohmandGatroad and Rs319 million allocated for Chao Tango small dam. 

National Poverty Graduation Programme

The government will launch a project of National Poverty Graduation Programme (NPGP) and for this purpose Rs 9.5 billion (US $ 82.6 million) have been allocated during the next fiscal year 2018-19.

Under the programme, BISP beneficiaries who are willing to start their own businesses will be provided with a one-time cash grant of Rs 50,000 to start their own business.

Presenting budget speech here on Friday, Federal Minister for Finance Miftah Islamil said the project would be executed to assist the ultra-poor and very poor in graduating out of poverty on a sustainable basis and enable women and youth to realize their development potential.

It would help for the economic well-being of marginalized segments providing them an opportunity to attain a better level of social status, he added.

Sources: APP, Radio Pakistan