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Jammu, Dec 1 (UNI) Jammu and Kashmir Finance Minister Tariq Hamid Qarra will present his first budget proposal for the year 2007-08 in the state assembly on January 17 next year.

This will be the fourth budget of the Congres-Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) coalition government and the first by Mr Qarra as Finance Minister.

The first three budgets were presented by former deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Muzaffar Hussain Baig.

The assembly session is scheduled to begin on January 8 with Governor Lt-Gen(retd) S K Sinha's address to the joint session of the legislature. The session will continue till February 23.

General discussion on the budget is scheduled to take place on January 19, 22 and 23.

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