ISLAMABAD: Finance Minister Miftah Ismail has proposed increasing the Supreme Court’s budget for 2018-19 by eight per cent as compared to this year’s allocation.

He has proposed allocating Rs1.96 billion under the next year’s budget to the apex court. A total of Rs1.81bn had been allocated to the court in the year 2017-18.

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) is proposed to be allocated Rs2.53bn. In the outgoing year the ECP has already utilised Rs8.9bn, with most of the money being spent on work related to the upcoming general elections.

The ECP’s budget for the outgoing year had initially been fixed at Rs2.34bn, but the allocation had to be enhanced to cover additional costs for the elections.

Of the Rs2.5bn proposed to be set aside for ECP in 2018-19, a substantial amount of Rs1.4bn will cover employee-related expenses, which include salaries of officers and other staff.

In 2018-19 the Islamabad High Court (IHC) is proposed to be given Rs527 million, compared to Rs486m in the outgoing year — an increase of Rs41m.

Out of a total of Rs527m proposed for the IHC, employee-related expenses will amount to Rs461m, including salaries of judges, officers and other staff. The allowances of the employees have been estimated at Rs284m.

Of the Rs1.96bn proposed for the Supreme Court for the next year, Rs1.48bn has been earmarked for expenses related to employees. Out of this amount, Rs484m will be spent on salaries of judges, officers and other staff. A total of Rs1bn has been set aside for allowances and Rs32m for repairs and maintenance.

Published in Dawn, April 28th, 2018