ISLAMABAD:
The National Assembly on Sunday formally began passage of the federal budget for 202627, approving 125 demands for grants worth Rs9.171 trillion after rejecting 307 cut motions moved by the opposition through a majority vote.
The House met with Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq in the chair. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented demands for grants relating to the National Assembly, the Senate, and 31 ministries and divisions for approval.
The opposition moved 307 cut motions, including 90 against 18 demands of the Cabinet Division, 116 against six demands of the Energy Division, and 100 against 12 demands of the Finance Division. All cut motions were rejected by the house.
The house approved Rs1.53 trillion for the Cabinet Division, rejecting all 90 cut motions. It also passed Rs4.262 trillion for the Finance Division and Rs6.61 trillion for the Energy Division, with opposition cut motions defeated in both cases.
Among other approvals, the House cleared Rs389 billion for the Climate Change Division, Rs279.9 billion for Commerce, and Rs1.25 trillion for Communications. Defence allocations stood at Rs3.06723 trillion, while Rs2.11 billion was approved for the Defence Production Division.
Economic Affairs received Rs150.1 billion, Federal Education and Professional Training Rs1.2126 trillion, and Foreign Affairs Rs681.7 billion. Housing and Works was allocated Rs223.1 billion, Human Rights Rs23.3 billion, Industries and Production Rs295.3 billion, and Interior and its attached departments Rs450.4 billion.
Information and Broadcasting Division received Rs275.7 billion, Information Technology Rs420.7 billion, and Inter-Provincial Coordination Rs50.2 billion. Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan Affairs were allocated Rs31.8 billion, Law and Justice Rs249.1 billion, and Maritime Affairs Rs41.2 billion.
The National Assembly received Rs90.3 billion, the Senate Rs32.1 billion, and National Health Services Rs532.8 billion. Parliamentary Affairs was allocated Rs12 billion, Planning Division Rs372.1 billion, and Privatisation Division Rs17.4 billion.
Railways received Rs1.1113 trillion, Religious Affairs Rs24 billion, Science and Technology Rs197.4 billion, and Water Resources Rs1.07 trillion. Separately, debate on Rs1.24286 trillion worth of demands relating to the Interior, National Food Security, and Poverty Alleviation Divisions, along with 280 opposition cut motions, will continue on Monday.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
