Quetta: The Balochistan government on Tuesday presented a surplus budget of PKR 1.028 trillion for the fiscal year 2025–26, prioritising development, social protection, and infrastructure improvement across the province.
Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani tabled the budget in the provincial assembly, describing it as a “realistic and inclusive financial plan” shaped through consultations with stakeholders. The proposed Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) stands at PKR 249.5 billion, including new and ongoing projects aimed at improving education, health, infrastructure, and climate resilience.
Budget Overview
The province is expected to receive PKR 801 billion from the federal divisible pool. Additionally, its own-source revenue is projected at PKR 101 billion, including PKR 48 billion from the services sector. Foreign and federal assistance for development schemes is estimated at PKR 104.5 billion.
Current expenditures are budgeted at PKR 642 billion, while the total development allocation is PKR 349 billion — of which PKR 249.5 billion is allocated under the provincial PSDP.
Communication & Works: PKR 55.2 billion, the largest share of the development budget.
Irrigation: PKR 42.78 billion for agricultural and water management improvements.
School Education: PKR 19.85 billion in development funding; PKR 101 billion under non-development.
Healthcare: PKR 16.15 billion (development) and PKR 71 billion (non-development).
Local Government: PKR 12.91 billion for municipal upgrades.
Public Health Engineering: PKR 17.16 billion for water and sanitation.
Higher Education: PKR 4.99 billion for facility upgrades and increased access.
Digital Balochistan: PKR 12.66 billion allocated to science and IT for e-governance and digital infrastructure.
A major project includes PKR 25 billion for the construction of the Mashkhel Dam in Chagai district to support industrial and water export initiatives. The government has also earmarked PKR 3 billion each for urban sanitation and the installation of 1,000 water filtration plants.
Social Spending & Jobs
The government announced a 10% salary increase for employees (grades 1–22) and a 7% pension raise. A 20% disparity reduction allowance is proposed for employees in grades 1–16. PKR 1 billion has been set aside for the Balochistan Pension Fund, while PKR 4.5 billion is allocated to expand the Balochistan Health Card scheme.
The budget also includes funding for the creation of over 6,000 jobs — including 4,000 contract-based and 2,000 permanent positions — as part of efforts to curb youth unemployment.
The Sarfraz Bugti-led government has maintained a ban on new car purchases for government departments, with exemptions only for law enforcement agencies. A total of PKR 18 billion has been allocated for Safe City surveillance projects in eight urban centres to strengthen law and order.
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