Rs71bn deficit budget for Balochistan
The cash-strapped Balochistan government on Saturday announced a budget of Rs71.19 billion for financial year 2008-09 which showed a deficit of Rs8.80 billion. "Prime Minister Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani has promised to provide Rs3 billion special grant from his discretionary fund,' Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Asim Kurd informed the provincial assembly in his budget speech. With this grant, the budget deficit would come down to Rs5.80 billion, which would be met by enhancing province's own resources, he added.