LAHORE, June 7: Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi announced here on Tuesday that the Punjab budget 2005-06 would be tax free and all the provincial government employees would be given a raise announced by the federal government to help them counter inflation.

“We have decided to assist the federal government in combating the present spate of inflation by improving the supplies of food products and utilities. I am sure the private sector would also improve salary structure of its employees,” he said.

The chief minister was speaking at a pre-budget news briefing at his Free Mason’s secretariat. He gave details of what he described as successes of his government during the current financial year and major steps being taken in the next year’s budget to be presented on June 9.

The chief minister said the government during the next financial year would give free textbooks to public-schools+IBk- students of class I to X, scholarships to students of class VI to X, extend emergency ambulance service to seven major cities and allow private practice to doctors of rural health centres at their official places.