Lahore, January 21: Punjab MPAs got a chance to make contributions into the upcoming annual budget of Punjab and the Annual Development Programme (ADP) through a Pre-Budget Briefing Session organized by PILDAT in association with the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab. Honourable Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly, inaugurated the Briefing Session while Honourable Rana Sanaullah Khan, Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, Punjab, conducted the discussion and recommendations by the MPAs.

The objective of the PILDAT Pre-Budget Briefing was to provide an overview of the current budget process, the upcoming Budget and the Annual Development Programme (ADP) for the year 2010-2011 to enable the Hounorable MPAs to contribute more effectively during the planned Pre-Budget Session of the Provincial Assembly of the Punjab.

The speakers at the pre budget briefing session Honourable Ch. Zahir-ud-Din, Leader of the Opposition, Provincial Assembly of the Punjab; Mr. Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of the Punjab; Mr. Ubaid Rubbani Qureshi, Secretary Planning and Development, Government of the Punjab. Over 200 MPAs and staff of the Provincial Assembly of Punjab and Ministry of Finance and Planning and Development Department actively participated in the pre-budget briefing session. PILDAT specially prepared a circulated a briefing pack including Background Papers on the Annual Development Plan of the Punjab (ADP) 2010-2011 and the Provincial Budget Process.

In his introductory remarks, Honourable Rana Muhammad Iqbal Khan, Speaker of the Punjab Assembly praised the initiative and contributions by the Punjab MPAs in the budget through pre budget briefing sessions since last year (2009-2010). He thanked PILDAT for supporting the process of pre-budget consultation for the Punjab Assembly and said that PILDAT�s compilation of MPAs recommendations, both during the briefing and the upcoming 5-day session of Punjab starting January 25, will be extremely useful in providing a comprehensive set of recommendations to the Government of Punjab ahead of the finalization of budget.

Speaking on parameters determining the upcoming Budget 2010-11, Mr. Tariq Mehmood Pasha, Secretary, Department of Finance, Government of the Punjab briefed the members about the constitutional provisions, budget cycle, revenue sources and expenditure categories. Mr. Pahsa highlighted the present government�s initiatives in detail that included free medical treatment, endowment fund to generate resource to support needy and position holder students for higher studies, support to farmers through Green Tractor Scheme, sasti roti scheme, wheat subsidy, food support programme, free text books, grant to school councils, performance incentive to teachers, better pay package to judiciary, better salary to law enforcing agencies, free dialysis / kidney treatment in public sector hospitals, stipend to girl students, support to private educational institutions, free vaccination of livestock, subsidized public transport in 5 big cities and quality education in public sector schools through Daanish School System, etc. He welcomed the PILDAT initiative and said the Finance Ministry looked forward to receiving MPAs� recommendations for inclusion in the upcoming budget.

Presenting an overview of the Punjab Planning and Development Department Mr. Ubaid Rubbani Qureshi, Secretary Planning and Development, elaborated the vision, priorities and determinants of the Annual Development Programme (2010-11). He said that the three main strategies consisted developmental, social and production strategies.

Discussing how can members of the Punjab Assembly effectively contribute to the preparation of provincial budget and the ADP, Honourable Rana Sanaullah Khan said that effective contribution to the budget process is one of the major responsibilities of an elected representative. Unfortunately, in previous regimes, the role of legislators has been reduced to rubber-stamp the budget. He emphasized that this pre-budget session, 5 months before the budget, provides an excellent opportunity to MPAs to make their practical contributions in time for inclusion in the budget. He said that PILDAT�s compilation of the recommendations by MPAs and their printing in one of PILDAT publications will actually give a chance to Punjab MPAs next year to hold the Punjab government into account on what developments have been taken by the government on their recommendations. He stressed that parliamentary parties must bring the annual development plans and strategies into their discussions and submit their tangible recommendations. He added that standing committees must play their role in the budget process and forward their recommendations to the concerned division.

Initiating the discussion and recommendation session at the pre-budget briefing, Honourable Ch. Zahir-ud-Din, Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, praised the efforts of PILDAT for supporting and aiding legislators to play their roles. He said that the session was a very useful opportunity for MPAs to firmly establish their effective role in the process of budget making.

MPAs from various political parties presented their recommendations for inclusion in the budget which were recorded and are being compiled by PILDAT.

In his concluding remarks, Mr. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, Executive Director of PILDAT thanked and acknowledged the support and cooperation of the Punjab Assembly as well as the honourable MPAs. He also thanked the speakers for their continued presence, including that of the Honourable Speaker and the Honourable Minister of Law and Parliamentary Affairs, for conducting and concluding the session. Mr. Mehboob acknowledged the association and support provided for the pre-budget initiative to PILDAT by the Parliamentary Centre, Canada and Canada's Department of Foreign and Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT).