LAHORE, Jun 16 (APP): The Punjab government has approved the province’s largest-ever development budget as part of the fiscal year 2025–26 financial plan.
The provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, passed the Rs 5,335 billion budget, with Rs 1,240 billion allocated for development, the highest in the history of Punjab.
The CM termed the budget people-centric and growth-oriented, focused on social welfare, economic revival, and public investment. Notably, 27 percent of the total budget has been earmarked for the vital sectors of health and education, while 73 percent has been directed towards infrastructure development, service delivery, and long-term growth.
The budget includes a 10 percent increase in salaries of government employees and a 5 percent rise in pensions. In a significant move for labor welfare, the CM directed an increase in the minimum monthly wage from Rs 37,000 to Rs 40,000. She further instructed the authorities to ensure digital payment of all types of wages in the province and mandated the use of protective gear for workers and laborers.
CM Maryam Nawaz also directed the registration of all wedding halls, marquees, restaurants, and farmhouses across Punjab by 20 July and instructed relevant departments to issue an immediate notification in this regard.
During the cabinet briefing, the CM was briefed on the sector-wise allocations proposed in the Punjab budget for the fiscal year 2025–26. A total of Rs 811.8 billion has been allocated for education, while Rs 630.5 billion has been set aside for health. The local government and community development sector will receive Rs 411.1 billion, and Rs 210.1 billion has been allocated for the police department. The housing and public health engineering sector has been earmarked Rs 245.7 billion, Rs 120 billion has been allocated for roads, Rs 141.5 billion for transport, and Rs 129.8 billion for agriculture.
Environmental protection has been allocated Rs 16.6 billion, while Rs 36 billion has been set aside for forests, wildlife, and fisheries. Under healthcare-specific initiatives, Rs 79.5 billion has been allocated for free medicines, Rs 61 billion for the Nawaz Sharif Medical District, and Rs 14.5 billion for the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital. Other healthcare allocations include Rs 25 billion for health insurance, Rs 9.4 billion for the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology, Rs 4.5 billion for the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha, Rs 6 billion for the Children’s Hospital Rawalpindi, Rs 3.6 billion for a transplant program, Rs 3.2 billion for the children’s heart surgery program, Rs 8.6 billion for the dialysis program, Rs 9.7 billion for health clinics, and Rs 3.5 billion for Clinic on Wheels.
The Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar housing scheme will receive Rs 50 billion, while Rs 35 billion has been allocated for the Ramazan Package, and Rs 35 billion for governance and IT reforms. In the transport sector, Rs 46 billion has been proposed for the electric bus project, and Rs 3.5 billion for e-taxis. The Lahore Development Program will receive Rs 85 billion.
Additional allocations include Rs 25 billion for the Punjab Development Program, Rs 10 billion for the Model Village project, and Rs 15.5 billion for the CM Tractor Scheme. Government universities will receive Rs 18 billion, and Rs 15 billion has been earmarked for the Honhar Scholarship Program, while Rs 40 billion is allocated for schools.
Furthermore, Rs 28 billion has been allocated for mass transit projects in Faisalabad, Lahore, and Gujranwala, Rs 15 billion for agricultural tube wells and Kisan Card, and Rs 20 billion for water reservoirs. To bolster public safety, Rs 11.5 billion has been allocated for the Safe City Project.
In support of arts and minorities, Rs 5 billion has been proposed for a Film Finance Fund, and Rs 3.6 billion for the Minority Card. For youth and social support, Rs 15 billion has been earmarked for the Laptop Program, Rs 40 billion for the Ration Card Scheme, Rs 10 billion for Sahulat Bazaars, Rs 9.4 billion for free textbooks, and Rs 7 billion for the School Meal Program.
