Major Feature of Punjab Budget 2012-13

LAHORE – The Punjab government has promised a total of 80,000 new jobs in various departments during the next fiscal year starting July 1, 2013. However, it has not been explained how many people will be absorbed in which department.

.    A quota of 15 per cent has been reserved for women in all jobs

        and all women colleges will be provided with buses.

.    As many as 125,000 laptops will be given to students during

         the next year. A similar number of students received the gadg

        ets during the outgoing year. In all, 400,000 students will be

         provided with laptops.

.    Ten per cent of seats in private educational institutions

         charging Rs5,000 or more in monthly fees have been pro

          posed for poor students. Their expenditure will be met by the

        institutions.

.    Some 150,000 qualified skilled workers will be given interest-

         free loans of Rs50,000 each to enable them to set up their

         businesses.

.    Twenty thousand yellow cabs and as many green tractors will

         be provided to the people. 50,000 graduates will be given a

        chance for four-month internship in various departments,

         during which they will be given a stipend of Rs10,000 a month. .    

The flour prices keep fluctuating throughout the year. To

         keep them at a reasonable level, a subsidy of Rs27.5billion has

        been earmarked. There is no explanation as to what the rea

        sonable level means.

.    An amount of Rs4 billion has been set aside to provide subsidized 

       eatables during Ramazan.

.    The energy sector has been given high priority with an allo

         cation of Rs10 billion. Feasibility reports of 10 projects with a

         capacity to generate 80MW electricity have been completed

         at a cost of Rs29 billion. Agreements have been signed with

          China to produce 120MW hydel power from a plant at Taunsa.

.    Four Ashiyana schemes will be started next year at a cost of

         Rs2 billion.

.    Transport sector will also get special attention during the

         next year. A total of 575 CNG buses will be imported from

        China. Of them, 350 have already reached Lahore while the

        remaining will also be made available in the near future.

.    A total of 1,200 new buses will be included in the urban trans

         port system.

.    An allocation of Rs11 billion has been made for the metro sys

        tem.

.    Jinnah Abadi Scheme will be continued during the next year

        and 115,000 deserving people will be given free-of-cost plots.