QUETTA: Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd on Wednesday said the feasibility report for Reko deq gold and copper project had been finalized and funds for setting up a refinery were allocated in the 2011-12 budget.
Addressing a post-budget briefing at Officers Club here, Kurd said on the recommendations of governing body of Reko Deq project including renowned nuclear scientist Dr Samar Mubarakmand, Rs 8.5 billion were earmarked for the refinery.
After the commissioning of refinery, the Rkho Deq project will yield Rs 58 billion income per year, the Finance Minister said adding that was the main reason that the provincial government was not allowing foreign companies to explore and mining in Reko Deq.
Responding to a question, he said that the Balochistan government would ready to ink an agreement with any investor for exploring and mining at the Sandak gold and copper project subject to 50 per cent share of the province in total income.
To another query, he said the Federal Government did not provide Rs 7 billion, which it had promised last year, to the province for improving law and order. The federal government has once again promised that it will provide Rs 2 billion in fiscal year 2011-12 for the above mentioned purpose, he added.
He said law and order situation in Balochistan had some political reasons and it could be resolved amicably through dialogue.
Responding to a question, provincial Finance Secretary Dostain Jamaldini said the government would collect Rs 18 billion more from its own resources in fiscal year 2011-12.
"Although Balochistan is far behind from other three provinces in collection of revenue, including General Sales Tax (GST), Capital Gain Tax (CGT) and Property Tax, however, it is collecting adequate amount from motor vehicle tax and stamp duty," Jamaldini said.
He rejected the impression that straight transfers received by the provincial government were federal government's grants. The straight transfers were the share of Balochistan.
He said that increase in Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) in fiscal year 2011-12 was by 19 per cent in comparison with PSDP of fiscal year 2010-11.
He said that Rs 250 million had been earmarked in the next fiscal budget as financial assistance for Frontier Corps to maintain law and order in Balochistan.
He said highway robberies in area between Mastung and Sorab caused increase in law and order budget. He said that in next budget, Balochistan police would get Rs 4.9 billion, Balochistan Constabulary Rs 1.439 billion, and Levies Force Rs 1.341 billion.
He said the Balochistan province could enhance its revenue and income from sectors-mining, fisheries, livestock and agriculture.
No comments:
Post a Comment