QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan Alyani has said that Rs5.5 billion will be allocated in the next financial year’s budget for providing health insurance to people of the province.

While announcing his priorities for the next year, he said on Sunday that an interest-free loan scheme would also be introduced for establishing small businesses.

He said the provincial government would give priority to the development schemes which benefited the people directly.

The chief minister said that Rs2bn would be earmarked for Balochistan Enterprise Development, Rs2bn for Support Fund for Persons with Disabilities and Rs3bn for Government Employees Housing Fund.

CM promises interest-free loan for small businesses

He said the government had decided to set aside Rs3bn for Balochistan Pension Fund, Rs2bn for Public Endowment Fund, Rs500 million as welfare fund and another Rs500m for women’s economic empowerment.

“We have planned to introduce an interest-free loan scheme by allocating Rs2bn for small businesses and Rs1bn for food security,” Mr Alyani said in a tweet.

The new measures would be taken in the next year’s budget to resolve many issues pending before the government, he said.

The chief minister said: “Balochistan is a vast province which needs more attention for ensuring lot of health facilities, the government has appointed two secretaries to look after the department and soon a health card project will be launched in the province.”

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2021