KARACHI: Addressing a post-budget press conference at the Chief Minister House on Sunday, Sindh Finance Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed oblivion over the reasons behind Muttahida Qaumi Movement's call for strike against the Sindh budget.

Know more: MQM calls for strike on Sunday in protest of budget.

When his attention was drawn towards a strike call given by MQM in protest against the Sindh budget, Shah maintained no reason had been cited for the protest strike.

“If informed about what are the exact points that need improvement, we will try and satisfy those criticising the budget.”

The minister said the provincial government was committed to providing maximum possible facilities to the masses to enhance living standards and welfare.

During the press conference, Shah said there existed a potential to double provincial tax revenue in the next three years. But, in what appears to be a paradox, also said the provincial budget for 2015-16 had reduced tax rates.

Listing some salient features of the Sindh budget, the finance minister said a sum of about Rs 50 billion had been allocated for development schemes in Karachi alone.

“The Sindh government has allocated Rs2.5bn for the K-IV scheme in Karachi. The federal government has also promised a matching sum for this scheme.”

Shah said there was a Ramzan package provision in the provincial budget, which would facilitate 1.7 million families each of which would receive a sum of Rs. 1,000 before Eid.

Responding to a question, he said agriculture income tax was being invoked in the province. “There is an ordinance for that [agriculture tax] as well and some changes would be brought to that ordinance.”

With an outlay of Rs 739.3bn, the budget deficit totals Rs12.7bn. “All efforts will be made to overcome the deficit,” Shah said.

Also read: Sindh Assembly presents budget with outlay of Rs739 billion.

He said a major portion of the budget receipt for the province came from the federal government, adding that the center had promised Rs421.3bn from the federal divisible pool. But Shah said Sindh will get Rs48bn less than the estimates in the federal budget.

In the Sindh budget for fiscal 2015-16, revenue expenditure has been estimated at Rs503.3bn, with a major chunk for education (Rs344bn), while Rs65bn and Rs57bn have been allocated for law and order and health, respectively.

Provincial government salaries are expected to cost Rs220bn, with pensions at Rs45bn while Rs50bn has been allocated for local government salaries. Thus about Rs320bn will be utilised in the disbursement of salaries and pensions.

Total budget for the provincial development programme has been set at Rs213bn, Shah told journalists.

Murad Ali Shah went on to say that 100MW energy project will be completed at Noriabad this year, which will supply electricity to Karachi, adding that a firm had already been contracted to lay out transmission lines for that purpose.

Shah said various other energy projects would be taken up under the Public- Private Partnership (PPP), including Lakhra Coal with three projects of 100MW each.

A 100MW wind energy project will also be initiated in addition to five solar energy projects of 20 MW each, said the Sindh finance minister.

He said negotiations with the federal government on settling electricity and gas bills were underway so as to avoid excess billing.