Balochistan to present Rs1tr budget for FY 2025-26 tomorrow

QUETTA: Balochistan’s budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 is scheduled to be presented on June 17, Tuesday (tomorrow). The total volume of the budget is expected to exceed Rs1 trillion. Like the current fiscal year, the upcoming budget is also projected to be a surplus budget.

Under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, Balochistan is set to receive Rs743 billion from federal revenues, which will be allocated under two categories: divisible pool taxes and direct transfers from natural resources, including gas.

According to government sources, Balochistan is expected to receive Rs70 billion more from federal revenues in the upcoming fiscal year compared to the current year. The province’s own revenue from provincial taxes and non-tax sources is estimated to exceed Rs150 billion.

Non-development expenditures for the next fiscal year are expected to surpass Rs700 billion, while over Rs240 billion may be allocated from the province’s own resources for development spending. Significant funds are expected to be allocated to key sectors such as education, law and order, health, infrastructure, agriculture, and others.

More than Rs160 billion is likely to be allocated for the education sector, over Rs100 billion for law and order, and Rs80 billion for the health sector.

Salaries of government employees in Balochistan are also expected to be increased in line with the federal government’s announcements. It is worth mentioning that provincial employees have been protesting for some time, demanding salary increases and other benefits.

The upcoming budget is expected to clarify the government’s position regarding salary and pension increases, taxation, and other employee-related incentives.