Punjab ministers praise provincial budget
LAHORE: The provincial ministers have stressed that the Punjab Budget 2025-26 is not merely a collection of numbers but a concrete commitment to public welfare, prosperity and transparent governance; significant relief has been provided to the people in the Punjab Budget 2025-26
During a post-budget press conference here on Tuesday, Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman and Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb reiterated the Chief Minister's clear directives for the timely completion of every project, full transparency, and maximum benefit to the public. The total budget amounts to Rs 5,335 billion, with Rs 1,240 billion allocated specifically for development projects, they added.
Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman said that, similar to last year, Punjab has once again presented a tax-free budget, with the development outlay amounting to 23 percent of the total provincial budget. He averred that no new taxes will be imposed in the budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. He described the budget as a historic package for public services. He added that the budget is expected to set new records in development.
He emphasised that the budget was prepared under the direct supervision of CM Maryam Nawaz, ensuring that the needs of all social classes were carefully considered. He further assured that no new taxes have been imposed on the public. 'Measures are underway to expand the tax net through the modernisation of the Punjab Excise and Taxation Department. Additionally, transparency is being enhanced through the implementation of e-governance, e-auctions, and e-tendering to curb corruption,' he added.
Punjab Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb noted that this is the largest development budget in Punjab's history; the CM has introduced an unprecedented development budget, increasing it from Rs 832 billion (allocated in the 2024-25 budget) to Rs 1,240 billion. The Chief Minister has also brought all major development projects under public accountability, setting new standards for good governance, she added.
According to her, significant allocations include Rs 81.1 billion for education, Rs 56.3 billion for healthcare and Rs 81.29 billion for agriculture. Special focus areas, based on the Chief Minister's priorities, include healthcare, education, agriculture, clean drinking water, sanitation and environmental protection. Moreover, as part of the 'Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar' initiative, 50,000 families have already received homes, with construction underway on an additional 100,000 housing units.
On transport, she said that rapid progress is being made on the Automated Rapid Transport (ART) and e-bus projects in Lahore, Faisalabad, and Gujranwala. The Chief Minister has also directed that every city should have access to clean, quality public transport, with 1,100 new buses being added to the fleet this year; 24 electric buses are currently operating in Lahore.
In the education sector, she said, Rs 40 billion is being utilised via school management councils to provide additional classrooms, IT labs and other facilities. Higher education will receive Rs 25 billion, the laptop scheme Rs 15 billion, scholarships for talented students Rs 15 billion, and the school meal programme Rs 7 billion, she added.
'In healthcare, Rs 181 billion has been allocated, including Rs 14.5 billion for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore, and Rs 8 billion for a new state-of-the-art children's hospital in Rawalpindi. Centres of excellence in nursing will be established in Lahore, Multan, and Rawalpindi, with an allocation of Rs 23 billion,' she stated.
According to her, under social protection, Rs 40 billion has been allocated for a ration card programme, along with prioritised schemes such as Himmat Card, Minority Card and Labour Card to provide immediate relief to vulnerable segments of society. Moreover, the CM Punjab Parwaaz Programme continues to offer technical training and respectable employment opportunities for youth.
Aurangzeb further highlighted that improving the environment has become a mission for the Chief Minister, with Rs 795 billion allocated for this purpose. 'Funds have been designated for the installation of 25 air quality monitoring stations, climate observatories, and the creation of an environmental protection force.'
In a move to revive the film industry, a Rs 7 billion fund has been established. For the welfare of journalists, a Rs 1 billion Journalist Endowment Fund and Rs 400 million for the Journalist Housing Foundation have been allocated, she said, adding that the Punjab Higher Education Commission will allocate Rs 18 billion to universities this year. Rs 40 billion has been earmarked for advanced IT laboratories in schools.
Additionally, Aurangzeb mentioned that the School Nutrition Programme will be expanded to eight districts, with an investment of Rs 148 billion in health and education. 'Rural Health Centres (RHCs) and Basic Health Units (BHUs) will be transformed into Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics. The first Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital is also under construction in Lahore.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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