LAHORE: With the federal budget for fiscal year 2025-26 being presented today, major provinces across Pakistan are now gearing up to unveil their own financial plans for the upcoming fiscal year. Punjab, Sindh, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are all expected to present their respective provincial budgets on Thursday, June 13.
Punjab Assembly session called, CM rejects new taxes
Sources indicate that a summary to convene the Punjab Assembly session on June 11 has been sent to the Governor of Punjab. A final decision on this matter is expected after further consultation.
Notably, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Monday rejected proposals to increase existing taxes. Speaking during a special session, CM Sharif emphasized the need to “expand the tax net, not increase taxes,” stating that she would not permit the imposition of unnecessary burdens on the public.
“We do not want to place a financial burden on the common man,” she remarked, drawing a contrast between salaried individuals earning PKR 200,000 who pay taxes, and those with incomes in the millions who do not. Her directive signals a potential shift in Punjab’s revenue strategy, focusing on bringing more people into the tax net rather than raising rates on existing taxpayers.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Budget Details Emerge
Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Finance Advisor, Muzammil Aslam, has confirmed that KP’s next fiscal year budget will also be presented on June 13.
In a statement, Aslam revealed that the KP budget is projected to exceed PKR 2,000 billion, with estimated expenditures surpassing PKR 1,800 billion. He highlighted a significant planned increase of 40 percent in developmental expenditures. Muzammil Aslam added that more funds would be allocated for educational emergency initiatives, the Sehat Card program, and bus services in the province.
Sindh Budget to prioritize public relief
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also confirmed that the Sindh budget would be presented on June 13, following the federal budget on June 10. Speaking to media in his ancestral village Wahar, CM Shah stated that the final decision on salary increases for government employees would be made after receiving definitive figures from the federal government.
He acknowledged the increased burden on the public due to inflation and assured that the budget would provide relief to the salaried class. CM Shah also expressed hope that the federal government would offer tax relief to this segment. He further mentioned that, under the directives of Bilawal Bhutto, special attention is being given to clean drinking water and solar energy projects in Sindh. The Chief Minister also updated on flood rehabilitation efforts, stating that 10 lakh (1 million) out of 2.1 million houses for flood victims in Sindh have been completed.
Regarding the energy crisis, Murad Ali Shah criticized HESCO, SEPCO, and K-Electric, calling all three institutions “failed,” particularly SEPCO, citing 18 hours of load shedding in Sindh. He indicated ongoing discussions with the federal government to run these three institutions under a public-private partnership model.
