Latest news with #BalochistanBudget
Arab News
17-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's militancy-hit Balochistan unveils ‘largest' $3.6 billion annual budget
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan's militancy-hit Balochistan on Tuesday unveiled its $3.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani described as the 'largest' one in the province's history. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by land size but its poorest by almost all social and economic indicators. The province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a low-lying insurgency for decades where ethnic separatist militants demand a greater share of the province's mineral resources for locals. Nosherwani presented the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the Balochistan Assembly in Quetta, with Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai chairing the session. 'For the upcoming fiscal year, the total budget is estimated at Rs1,028 billion [$3.63 billion]— the largest in the province's history,' Nosherwani told lawmakers during the budget session. 'Out of this, the non-development budget is Rs642 billion [$2.26 billion] while the overall provincial development (PSDP) budget is Rs249.5 billion [$878 million],' he added. The finance minister pointed out that the budget includes a Rs42 billion [$148.3 million] surplus, describing it as a 'historic milestone' for the province. Nosherwani said the government has earmarked over Rs120 billion [$423.5 million] for the schools sector and Rs29.1 billion [$102.7 million] for the higher education sector. The provincial government has also allocated Rs87 billion [$307 million] for the health sector, ₨26 billion [$91.8 million] for the agriculture sector and Rs1 billion [$3.53 million] for food, he said. He said the government had decided not to purchase new vehicles, except for the ones required by law enforcement personnel. 'To create employment opportunities in 2025–26, the provincial government plans to introduce 4,188 contract positions and 1,958 regular jobs across departments,' Nosherwani said. He credited the provincial government for not overlooking any segment of society in the annual budget. 'These measures cover government employees, women, pensioners, youth, migrants, laborers— people from every walk of life,' the finance minister said.
Express Tribune
03-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
New budget to focus on education, health: Bugti
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti has said the upcoming provincial budget will focus on health and education sectors and there will be no room for politically driven development schemes. The CM made these remarks while chairing a meeting on Tuesday at the Chief Minister's Secretariat. The meeting reviewed preparations for the upcoming Balochistan Budget 202526 and the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). The meeting was attended by provincial ministers and parliamentary leaders of coalition parties. Participants engaged in detailed deliberations on developmental priorities, effective allocation of financial resources, and initiatives aimed at public welfare. During the session, Chief Minister Bugti stated that the upcoming budget would be centered on sustainable development and the genuine needs of the people. He assured that recommendations from the parliamentary committee would be carefully incorporated into the final draft of the budget to ensure inclusivity and relevance. He reiterated the provincial government's commitment to transparency and accountability, particularly in the utilization of development funds. Bugti emphasized that health and education would receive top priority and that all efforts would be made to ensure merit-based allocation of resources across all districts and union councils. "There will be no room for politically driven schemes. Every area and every citizen of Balochistan will be treated equally. It is my foremost responsibility to guarantee transparency in fund distribution," he said while addressing the parliamentary leaders. The meeting marks a significant step toward finalizing a budget aimed at stimulating economic growth, enhancing infrastructure, and expanding social services throughout the province.
