By Our Correspondent
LAHORE: Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman has presented the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in the Punjab Assembly, with a total outlay of Rs5,903 billion.
The budget session, chaired by Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan, began after a delay of one hour and forty minutes. The proceedings opened with the recitation of the Holy Quran, Naat, and the national anthem, and were attended by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
Opposition members staged a protest shortly after entering the assembly, raising slogans and disrupting proceedings. The protest intensified when the finance minister began delivering his speech, with opposition lawmakers gathering near the Speaker’s dais.
During his address, the finance minister announced that Rs752 billion have been earmarked for development projects across Punjab, stressing that the government has not compromised on its development agenda. He said ministerial salaries had been reduced and that governance reforms under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif had been widely appreciated.
He further claimed that the provincial government had played a key role in stabilising the economy and delivering relief during flood-related challenges. He added that services were now being provided to citizens at their doorstep across the province.
Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman also said every district and tehsil is included in Punjab’s development plan and described recent initiatives as “revolutionary.” He noted that Punjab contributed Rs546 billion to the federal government and called the province the “backbone of Pakistan’s economy.”
The minister further stated that more than 400,000 jobs were created on merit, while unnecessary government expenditures were curtailed to improve fiscal discipline.
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