Budget 2024-25: Punjab announces relaunching laptop scheme

LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced re-launching laptop scheme for students, and allocated Rs10 billion in this regard the budget for financial year 2024-25.

Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, in his budget speech, said that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s dream was coming true swiftly, and in a very short time of three months, foundation of Pakistan’s first IT city “Nawaz Sharif IT City” has been laid.

The government has launched free WiFi service for citizens in many areas of the provincial capital, and the facility is being extended to other cities also, he added.

Collectively, the Punjab government allocated Rs20.7 billion for ongoing and new schemes of governance and Information Technology.

The Punjab government has also proposed hiking provincial employees’ salaries ranging from 20% to 25% besides jacking up the pension by 15% in the budget 2024-25.

CM Maryam-led Punjab cabinet greenlighted the decision to increase the salaries of Grade 1-16 employees by 25%, Grade 17-22 officers by 20% and retired workers’ pensions by 15%.

Subsequently, the provincial government also increased the minimum wages from Rs32,000 to Rs37,000 per month.