LAHORE: Punjab has cut development budget for district governments by five times or so for fiscal 2016-17.

However, it has increased developmental allocation for the town, municipal and union administrations across the province.

According to the budget statement, the province has set aside a sum of Rs12.13 billion for district governments for next fiscal.

Though it was Rs9.391bn in FY 15-16, the amount was massively enhanced in revised estimates to over Rs61.545bn at a later stage.

On the other hand, development budget for TMAs and union administrations has been fixed at Rs2.87bn for 2016-17. In 2015-16 revised budget estimates, it was slightly over Rs2bn.

Punjab has allocated a meagre amount (Rs500 million) for low-cost housing (town development). In FY 2015-16, the allocation was revised to 236.645m. In 2014-15, it was Rs367.049m. Staff Reporter