LAHORE: Opposition Leader in the Punjab Assembly Mahmoodur Rasheed on Wednesday sent a reminder to provincial finance minister Ms Aysha Ghous, seeking inclusion of opposition`s proposals in the upcoming 2016-17 budget for the province.

In his letter, Mr Rasheed stated the Punjab government had failed in spending some 37 per cent of the development budget, adding that only Rs228 billion were spent out of allocated Rs400 billion.

He stated the school education department could not spend 52pc of the allocated budget, while the Higher Education Department left 28pc budget unspent, health department 38pc, and local government could not spend 41pc of its budget. He said the government could spend only 68pc of the revised development budget.

The opposition leader said the government had even failed to implement the measures it had announced, adding the masses could not be given relief due to non-utilisation of the budget.

In his proposals, the opposition leader demanded the government should fix at least Rs20,000 as minimum wages for the labourers, announce 20pc increase in government employees` salaries and refrain from imposing any new tax.

He said the farmers could not be given relief by doling out smart phones, instead the government should spend budget on their welfare. He also demanded the government should announce pro-farmers agriculture policy.