LAHORE – The caretaker Punjab cabinet approved a four-month budget onTuesday for fiscal year 2018-19 with a total outlay of Rs693 billion.

The meeting approved the proposal for a 10% increase in the salaries ofgovernment employees, besides approving to review the house rent. Thecaretakers also green signalled a 10% increase in the pension of retiredgovernment employees.

The Hassan Askari-led government gave approval to the development budgetfor four months for the new Fiscal Year 2018-19. The meeting also approvedthe estimates of recurring expenditures of four months of the upcomingfiscal year.

Punjab Caretaker Chief Minister Dr Hasan Askari presided over theprovincial cabinet meeting. Addressing the meeting, Dr. Askari said thecaretaker government had presented budget in accordance with theconstitutional requirements.

He said the government had made an effort to provide necessary relief tothe people while remaining within the limited mandate and constitutionalresponsibilities.

Funds for education, healthcare, agriculture and social sectors had beenincreased, he said.

“We have to serve the people of the province while remaining within themandate”, he further said and added that all the decisions were being madewith the consultation of the cabinet and budget had been approved withconsensus.

Performance of the Punjab Revenue Authority was also appreciated in themeeting. Earlier, Secretary Finance gave the briefing about the salientfeatures of new fiscal year’s budget. Provincial ministers, chiefsecretary, Inspector General of police and senior officials attended themeeting.

Dr Askari listened to the proposals of cabinet members attentively and tooknotice. Later, he signed off on the budget documents to give formalapproval.