On Wednesday, Sindh Cabinet approved the 2020-21 Budget plan for the next fiscal year.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has said in detail that our budget gives relief to government employees, farmers and the private sector. Given financial difficulties we will provide relief to government workers and the people.

He said that in difficult situation, people can not be left alone while we kept budget for development works despite difficulties and tried to present a balanced financial plan.

Sindh cabinet agreed to grant grade 1 to 16 employees a 10 percent pay increase, while grade 17 and above officers will receive a 5 percent raise in their salaries in the 2020-21 budget. However, it should be noted here that Center and Punjab did not increase government employee salaries for fiscal year 2020-21 in their respective budgets.

The Provincial Assembly ‘s budget session will be interactive, with 75 per cent expected to attend the session via video connection.

Sindh’s government has decreased its development portfolio from Rs 228 billion in the 2019-2020 outgoing year to around Rs 170 billion for the next financial years 2020-2021 according to estimates.

About Rs 155 set aside for the provincial development portfolio for the next year while only Rs 15 billion set aside for the districts.

In the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic, however, a prominent sum allocated to the health sector.

It is noted that, in the coming fiscal year, about Rs 5 billion allocated to the emergency fund for coronavirus and a combined Rs 15 billion will be directly or indirectly spent on health.

In the next budget, Chief Minister Sindh said earlier while addressing a news conference that priority would be given to the health sector under which new facilities will be built. “We have to contain the virus that is spreading across the province.”