LAHORE: Punjab’s tax-free budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 will be presented today (Tuesday) during the 43rd session of the Punjab Assembly, which has been summoned by the governor.
Meanwhile, the Governor of Balochistan has called the provincial assembly’s budget session for Wednesday at 4pm in Quetta.
In Punjab, Provincial Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman will present the budget speech and table important financial documents and bills before the assembly. These include the annual financial statement for 2026-27 and the supplementary budget for the outgoing fiscal year 2025-26.
The finance minister will also introduce the Punjab Finance Bill 2026, present notifications regarding amendments to Sections 5 and 76 of the Punjab Sales Tax on Services Act, 2012, and lay before the house the Fiscal Risk Statement for the upcoming financial year.
According to official sources, the proposed Punjab budget has a total outlay of more than Rs5.3 trillion. The province is expected to receive approximately Rs4.4 trillion through the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, while provincial revenue collection is projected at Rs1 trillion.
The government has proposed allocating more than Rs700 billion for development projects and Rs800 billion for the Punjab Finance Commission. Around Rs650 billion has been earmarked for salaries, while Rs505 billion has been allocated for pension payments.
The proposed increase in salaries of Punjab government employees is expected to be in line with the raise announced by the federal government. Under the Annual Development Programme (ADP), 3,560 development schemes have been proposed, with Rs493.25 billion likely to be allocated for ongoing projects and Rs258.75 billion for new initiatives.
Among the major projects included in the budget is the establishment of the Kulsoom Nawaz Cancer Hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan. Significant allocations have also been proposed for the Chief Minister’s Laptop Programme, Kisan Card, Livestock Card, and the Parwaaz Card International Placement Programme.
The budget further proposes the establishment of the Mian Nawaz Sharif University of Engineering and Technology and the Shehbaz Sharif Sports Complex in Kasur.
Authorities have finalised comprehensive security arrangements for the Punjab Assembly budget session amid the possibility of opposition protests. In Balochistan, the Assembly Secretariat has also announced strict security and entry protocols for the budget session.
Under a key directive, the entry of both government and private armed security personnel into the Balochistan Assembly Secretariat during the proceedings has been strictly prohibited.