20000130

B'stan budget

enhanced by

Rs 641.945m

LAILA A ALI

QUETTA: The Balochistan budget 1999-2000 has been beefed up by the federal monthly transfer of Rs 641.945 million, raising the total net receipts to Rs 6,885.495 million, but still showing a shortfall of Rs 614.013 million.

According to official statistics, here on Saturday, as against monthly projection of Rs 7,499.508 million from July '99 to December '99, actual amount of Rs 6,885.495 million was received by Quetta from Islamabad during six months period. It shows a shortfall of Rs 614.013 million. Before the army takeover, monthly federal transfer for Balochistan was Rs 329.626 million in July 1999 Rs 346.520 million in August '99, and Rs 525.659 million in September '99, as against projected monthly transfer of Rs 550.214 million.

But soon after the army takeover, monthly transfer short to Rs 661.785 million in October, Rs 416.262 million in November and Rs 641.945 million in December '99 under divisible pool raising the grant total to Rs 2,921.797 million, against monthly projection of Rs 3,301.286 million from July to December '99. It shows a shortfall of Rs 379.489 million. Similarly under straight transfers (excise duty, royalty on gas, surcharge on gas) there is a shortfall of Rs 168.590 million. During the same July to December '99 period, it received Rs 2,637.519 million against projected amount of Rs 2,806.109 million, there is however small shortfall of Rs 65.934 million in the federal transfers of grants and loans. During the same period of received Rs 3,032.489 million against projected amount of Rs 3,098.423 million.

According to these statistics, out of monthly projection of Rs 9,205.818 million, Balochistan has had total receipts of Rs 8,591.805 million showing a shortfall of Rs 614.013 million from July to December '99. But Balochistan not receipts fell to Rs 6,885.495 million due to deductions of Rs 1,706.3 million on account of debt servicing (Rs 1,552.218 million) and adjustment of octroi and zila tax (Rs 154.092 million) during July '99 to December '99.