ISLAMABAD - The provincial governments have recorded budget surplus of Rs 142.288 billion during the first six months (July-December) of the current fiscal year 2012-13 that helped the federal government to keep budget deficit at 2.6 per cent during the period under review.According to official figures of the Finance Ministry, the provincial governments’ expenditures were recorded at Rs 598.597 billion against their revenue of Rs 740.886 billion, thus leaving budget surplus of Rs 142.288 billion during July-December period of 2012-13. A robust cash surplus from provinces at a record Rs 142.288 billion helped the federal government contain consolidated fiscal deficit at about 2.6 per cent of GDP in first half of the current fiscal year.According to the figures, the Punjab province recorded budget surplus of Rs 66.380 billion during July-December period of the year 2012-13, as expenditure was recorded at Rs 274.060 billion against the revenue of Rs 340.440 billion. The break-up of Rs 340.440 billion revenue revealed that Punjab province has received Rs 278.592 billion from federal government under the head of provincial share in federal revenue. The provincial tax collection of the Punjab government stood at only Rs 36.043 billion during the first half of the ongoing financial year. Non-tax collection of the Punjab government remained at Rs 16.775 billion and federal loans and grants were recorded at Rs 9.030 billion.The Sindh province recorded budget surplus of Rs 45.558 billion during the first six of the ongoing financial year. The expenditure of the Sindh province was recorded at Rs 168.323 billion as compared to the revenue of Rs 213.881 billion during July-December period of the year 2012-13. The Sindh government received Rs 154.050 billion from federal government under the head of provincial share in federal revenue. The Sindh government collected Rs 32.325 billion as taxes and Rs 13.619 billion as non-tax and Rs 13.619 billion as federal loans and grants during first two quarters of the ongoing fiscal year.The figures further revealed that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province recorded budget surplus of Rs 11.877 billion, as expenditure was recorded at Rs 100.496 billion against the revenue of Rs 112.372 billion. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province received Rs 96.360 billion from federal government under the head of provincial share in federal revenues. Rs 1.856 billion were collected as taxes and non-tax collection was recorded at Rs 2.204 billion and Rs 11.943 billion came from federal loans and grants.The Balochistan province recorded budget surplus of Rs 18.474 billion. The expenditure of the Balochistan province was recorded at Rs 55.718 billion as compared to revenue of Rs 74.192 billion during July-December period of 2012-13. The Balochistan government received Rs 63.154 billion from federal government under the head of provincial share in federal revenue. The Balochistan government collected Rs 483 million as taxes and Rs 1.883 billion as non-tax and Rs 8.672 billion as federal loans and grants during first half of the ongoing fiscal year.