The National Assembly on Thursday passed the Rs 2.9 trillion federal budget for the year 2009-10 after the passage of finance bill. All the amendments by the government in the bill presented by Minister of State for Finance Hina Rabbani Khar were passed by the house. The budget, presented in the National Assembly on the 13th of this month would be effective from July 1st.The budget focuses on achieving the goal of sustainable economic growth and ensuring welfare of the people on equitable basis. The budget has a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of Rs. 646 billion for the next financial year aimed at improving infrastructure in the country and ensuring provision of better civic amenities to the masses. The government has taken a number of steps in the new budget to give relief to the common man particularly the poor that include allocation of Rs 70 billion for Benazir Income Support Programme and 20 percent increase in the salaries of low paid employees. Some difficult decisions have been taken in the new budget for the restructuring of economic structure and expanding tax net to enhance government revenue and to improve socio economic conditions of the masses. Priority has been accorded to providing basic necessities to the Internally Displaced Persons. There is a provision of Rs 50 billion for IDPs for rehabilitation, reconstruction of infrastructure and revival of economic activities.