PA okays Rs5,300bn budget for 2025–26

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Thursday approved the Rs5,300 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26 besides passing the Finance Bill with majority vote. All budgetary demands for grants for the fiscal year 2025–26 were approved by the Assembly that met with Speaker Malik Ahmad Khan in chair.

The Punjab Assembly passed demands for grants exceeding Rs4,329 billion with majority support and all the cut motions recommended by the Opposition were rejected through voting. A total of 41 demands for grants related to various departments were approved during the session. The Assembly approved more than Rs200bn in expenditure for police department. In the budget, a grant exceeding Rs137 billion was approved for the education sector. More than Rs258bn was sanctioned for healthcare services. The Assembly approved Rs462bn in pension-related grants. Demands exceeding Rs910bn were passed for development projects. The Assembly approved Rs120bn for roads, bridges and infrastructure of Punjab. Grants amounting to Rs161bn were approved for public buildings. In the Agriculture sector, Rs26.5 billion was approved, along with Rs19 billion for veterinary services and Rs1.6 billion for fisheries. Expenditures in the billions were also approved for police, prisons, museums, and the judicial system. Grants were approved for departments including Registration, Stamps, Motor Vehicle Acts, and Excise. The Assembly is also set to approve demands related to subsidies, investments, civil defense, and local government loans. Overall, the approved demands cover specific allocations for police, education, health, pensions, development projects, subsidies, roads, public buildings, and dozens of other departmental expenditures.