ISLAMABAD: Minister for Finance Senator Ishaq Dar Friday proposed an 100 per cent increase in funds for the Pakistan Baitul Maal (PBM) in the federal budget 2016-17 to mitigate sufferings of downtrodden segments of the society.

Presenting budget proposals in the National Assembly, he said the PBM’s annual funds had been increased from Rs 2 billion to Rs four billion – the 100 per cent increase in the budget.

He said the government was committed to provide maximum facilities to the needy so that they could lead their lives in a respectable way.