Rs577.98bn Sindh budget approved

KARACHI: Sindh Assembly on Monday unanimously approved the budget 2012-13 having total outlay of Rs 577.98 billion along with the approval of 59 demands for grants for the next fiscal year.

The session began with Deputy Speaker Shehla Raza in the chair and later Speaker Nisar Ahmed Khuhro assumed the charge.

Due to non-existence of any opposition party in the provincial assembly, no cut motions were moved and budget was unanimously approved by the house amid loud desk-thumping.

The supplementary budget of Rs 150.33 billion for the current fiscal year 2011-12 with 56 demands for grants was also approved. In his winding-up speech, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah said owing to efforts of President Asif Ali Zardari, Pakistan Peoples’ Party developed understanding with MQM and PML-F, which had never been witnessed before.

To an extent we have solved people’s problems and we will again succeed in the next general elections if people feel we have done something good for them, the Chief Minister remarked.