Balochistan unveils 1028b with Rs 51b surplus budget for FY 2025–26

QUETTA, Jun 18 (APP): Balochistan government has presented a budget of Rs 1028 billion, a historic surplus of Rs 51 billion for the fiscal year 2025–26, with a focus on development and welfare projects.
Addressing a post budget press briefing on Wednesday, the finance minister Shoaib Nosherwani, accompanied by minister for planning and development, Mir Zahoor Buledi, spokesperson of Balochistan government Shahid Rind and Secretary Finance Imran Zarkoon, said the total income for the upcoming year had been estimated at Rs 1028 billion and total expenses would be 976.5 billion, hence the budget presented with a surplus of Rs 51.5 billion
He said the revenues would include 801 billion federal transfers, Rs101 billion provincial receipts, Rs 37.8 billion Foreign Fund Projects Assistance (FPA), Rs 24 billion Sui Gas Lease Extension Bonus, Rs 38 billion Sate Trading, and Rs 26 billion Cash Carry Forward.
Nosherwani said the total estimated expenditure for the next financial year 2025-26 is Rs 976.5 billion, in which the total volume of the current expenditure is Rs 640 billion and the volume of development budget 249.5 billion.
He said that the government has minimized the non-development expenditures and enhance the PSDP for fiscal year 2025-26. Mir Shoaib Nosherwani said that the incumbent government has utilized around 98 percent development funds of the PSDP 2024-25 for the first time in the provincial history due to the efforts of all departments.
Nosherwani added that the chief minister has conducted detailed review meetings on the implementation of development funds on weekly and monthly basis and had ordered the initiating of tenderization process from the first of July 2024.
In his post budget briefing, Minister Shoaib Nosherwani said that the provincial government had successfully spent the entire development budget for the current fiscal year.
He said that around Rs 80 billion will be directly transferred to districts and union councils, benefiting local communities and strengthening local bodies.
Shoaib Nosherwani said that in the budget 2025-26, Rs 23 billion has been earmarked for the strengthening of District Coordination Committees (DCC) and allocated Rs 500 million as special funds under Balochistan Climate Change Fund.
The government has allocated Rs 249.5 billion for development of total 6,183 schemes, out of which 3,633 are ongoing projects and 2,550 are new initiatives.
The Minister announced that the volume of current operating expenditure has been dropped from Rs 43 billion to Rs 33 billion due to the austerity measures of the provincial government.
He said that the government has enhanced the provincial income and set a target to generate Rs 124 billion revenue in upcoming fiscal year.
He said a development grants of Rs 57 billion of federal funded projects, and Rs 30 billion as Foreign Projects Assistance (FPA) has been estimated despite the provincial development programme in the financial year 2025-26.
He said under the development budget, Rs 249.5 billion would be spent on about 3633 ongoing schemes and 2550 new development projects where Rs 18 billion had been earmarked for the installation of safe city projects in eight cities in the upcoming financial year 2025-26.
He said education, health, climate change, law and order were among the priorities of the provincial government.
The minister also announced the creation of 4188 contract-base and 1958 regular jobs for the fiscal year 2025-26 to provide employment to the youth of the province.
The minister emphasized that the budget was developed after thorough consultation with all political parties and is focused on public welfare, development priorities, and financial sustainability.
Shoaib Nosherwani said that the budget is based on the province’s actual needs, economic capacity, and ground realities, aiming to ensure balanced development across both urban and rural areas.
The development budget of Rs 55.19 billion allocated for the Communication and Works Department which is increased of 19 percent from the current year for the construction of roads and upgradation of existing infrastructure.
The government has allocated Rs. 42.78 billion development budget for irrigation sector to boost agriculture and manage water resources, major investments are being made in dams, canals, and water storage systems.
Nosherwani said that Rs. 24.84 billion allocated for development of education sector- secondary and higher education, to upgrade educational infrastructure, hire teachers, and introduce modern facilities.
He said the government has planned the construction of two additional classrooms in 3,000 one-room schools at a cost of Rs. 6 billion However, the government would reopened 1200 more closed schools with worth Rs 2.5 billion as part of its education reform.
The Balochistan government has been allocated Rs 20 billion for public health and welfare schemes, Rs. 325 million for upgrading 25 healthcare centers and amount of Rs. 4.5 billion for the Balochistan Health Card.
For Training and Skills Development, the Balochistan government has allocated Rs. 5 billion for provision of vocational training, Rs 50 million awarded for promoting local languages through Pashtu, Balochi, Brahvi and Hazargi academies.
Shoaib Nosherwani said that an amount of Rs. 8 billion has been allocated for universities in Balochistan to support higher education institutions while the Higher Education Commission (HEC) would awarded a grant of Rs 3 billion, aimed at resolving structural and financial challenges faced by universities in the province.
Addressing the post budget briefing Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahore emphasized that the budget reflects a balanced and inclusive development strategy. “This is a people-centric budget that seeks to address the real issues of Balochistan’s population,” said Zahoor Buledi. “Our focus is shifting from public sector employment to strengthening private enterprise and industrial growth to create sustainable employment.”
Zahoor Buledi added that Balochistan’s development budget has been fully utilized this fiscal year, and departments are being encouraged to increase efficiency and transparency. “This budget is a move toward empowering people at the grassroots level.
Buledi also clarified that the government has not reduced the health budget, rather increased it by 6 percent, countering public speculation.
Zahoor Buledi added that various projects have been introduced in the budget impacting directly to public.
Both ministers reiterated that the budget process was inclusive, with space for opposition members to voice their concerns in the assembly. “Opposition and treasury benches are incomplete without one another,” Buledi said, adding that democracy means respecting diverse views.
Addressing the event, Spokesperson of Balochistan government said that in a significant initiative, the government has decided to establish Balochistan’s first Solar Park to promote renewable energy and reduce dependency on conventional power sources
He added that the budget 2025–26 represents a shift towards fiscal responsibility, development equity, and long-term institutional reform. With unprecedented allocations in education, health, infrastructure, and industry, the government aims to chart a new path for sustainable development in one of Pakistan’s most resource-rich provinces.