By Asim Shahzad
LAHORE: The Punjab government presented the budget for the year 2025-26, the total estimate of which is Rs 5335 billion. Rs 2706 billion has been kept for the non-development budget. There will be a 10 percent increase in salaries and a 7 percent increase in pensions, while the minimum wage of workers will be increased to Rs 40,000. Opposition protests strongly during the session.
The budget was presented in the House by Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, which includes salaries, pensions, transfers, service delivery and PFC in non-development expenditure. Non-development expenditure will increase by 6%. Rs 1240 billion has been allocated for development expenditure. The volume of the development budget is 47% more than the previous fiscal year. Funds of Rs 764.2 billion have been allocated through PFC to empower local governments. Grants of Rs 150 billion and Rs 20 billion will be provided for waste management and municipal corporations respectively. A separate package of Rs70 billion for social security to the public is also included in the budget. Punjab will receive Rs 4,062.
billion in remittances from the federation through FDP. A target of Rs 828.2 billion has been set for provincial revenue. Punjab Revenue Authority will receive Rs 340 billion, Board of Revenue Rs 135.5 billion, Rs 30 billion to be received through mines and minerals.
Rs97.9 billion is estimated in terms of foreign funding programs, loans and state trading. Rs 661 billion has been allocated for non-development expenses of the education department. Funds of Rs 14 billion have been released for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Center, while Rs 12 billion has been allocated this year. 2.6 billion has en allocated for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology. Rs109 billion has been estimated for the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District and land acquisition. The biggest budget in the history of Punjab. Rs127 percent increase in the education budget, 41 percent increase in the health budget. 132 percent increase in the police budget, 24 percent increase in the agriculture budget. 359 percent increase in the transport budget, environment 50% increase in the budget for protection . Around 130% increase in the budget for municipalities, 211% increase in the budget for Housing, Urban Development and Public Health.
