ISLAMABAD (NNI) – Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has described the new budget as a positive and effective effort to make it people-friendly and relief-oriented that would go a long way in improving the lot of common man.

Addressing a news conference at the Parliament House, he said it is a historical budget in which relief has been ensured for every segment of the society.

The prime minister said concrete steps have been taken in the budget with a record public sector development program that would focus on infrastructure development, provision of electricity, gas, and water besides improvement in education, health, and other social sectors that would create maximum job opportunities also.

He referred to increase in the salaries and pensions of the government employees and hoped they will feel relief in their life.

The prime minister said special incentives have been announced in the new budget for development of agriculture sector that would help increase productivity besides enhancing income of the farmers that would reduce rural poverty.

Aziz said significant reduction has been announced in tariff and duties especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and textile sector that would help expand industry which would result in generating more job opportunities for the people.

He said another salient feature of the budget is Rs13 billion subsidy on kitchen budget that would help stabilize or even reduce prices of the essential commodities.

He said steps have also been taken through micro and macro policies to stabilize essential commodities prices.

To a question, the prime minister said although a number of measures have been taken for the welfare of common people but there is lot to do and the direction in which the government is moving would ultimately result in resolving public problems that is really bench line of this budget. He assured that there will be no mini budget.

Answering a question regarding Kalabagh Dam, the prime minister said the government is in process of consultations with stakeholders and final decision in this regard would be taken after developing a consensus.

However, he said government is on its way to build other dams including Diamir Bhasha and Neelum Jhelum that has been announced in new budget.

Replying a question regarding electricity crisis, Aziz said a comprehensive program has been launched for increasing capacity besides improving network distribution that would help in overcoming the problem.

He said the main reason for this crisis is ever growing economy that is resulting in increase of power demand.

He said the government needs prayers of the people so that it could transmit real benefits of macro economic stability to the common people to materialize our dream of a developed, prosperous, and progressive Pakistan.