MUZAFFARABAD: The Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Finance Minister presented a tax free budget for the 2013-14 financial year with an outlay of Rs 55.680 billion in the AJK Legislative Assembly in Muzaffarabad on Thursday.
The finance minister said that over Rs 10.5 billion have been earmarked for development projects.
The minister said the new budget provides solid foundation for the socio-economic uplift of the people by providing maximum facilities to them and accelerating pace of developmental activities in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
He said that the AJK government would generate Rs 45 billion 18 crore and 50 lakh from its own resources‚ while the remaining amount would be provided by the Federal Government.
The AJK finance minister said that their priorities are to improve and promote Education‚ Health‚ Hydropower generation‚ Forests‚ Communication‚ and Agriculture sectors.
He said that work on 1836 different projects for reconstruction and rehabilitation of the quake-affected areas is also underway. These projects are being carried out with the help of Pakistan and International Donor Agencies at a cost of Rs 250 billion.
DND
