Punjab Assembly session: Govt, opposition continue heated debate on budget

LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly witnessed another day of heated exchanges between the government and the opposition during the third day of debate on the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026–27.

Opposition members described the budget as a “numbers game,” alleging reductions in allocations for agriculture, education, and health, while the government defended it as a people-friendly budget focused on public welfare and development.

The assembly session commenced under the chairmanship of Panel of Chairpersons member Malik Ahmad Saeed Khan. During the budget debate, opposition lawmaker Ejaz Shafi strongly criticized the government’s financial plan, calling it a “deceptive exercise in figures.” He alleged that development funds for agriculture, higher education, special education, and the health sector had been reduced, adversely affecting farmers, students, and ordinary citizens.

Responding to the criticism, Information Minister Uzma Bukhari accused the opposition of prioritizing political narratives over constructive budget discussion. She claimed that the Punjab government had successfully implemented several public welfare initiatives, including electric bus services, the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing scheme, the Green Tractor Programme, as well as laptop and scholarship programmes.

Provincial Minister Bilal Yasin also defended the government’s performance, stating that record development projects were underway across Punjab. He highlighted significant progress in healthcare, road infrastructure, and sanitation services, adding that direct relief measures were being provided to farmers and the general public.

Meanwhile, opposition member Farrukh Javed Moon raised concerns over electoral transparency, the wheat crisis, and alleged corruption, criticizing the government’s handling of these issues. Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi also called for a transparent investigation into the death of a young girl during a Counter Crime Department (CCD) firing incident in Chakwal.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026