Punjab to present budget today
The Punjab government will present its Rs 5 trillion budget for FY 2026-27, focusing on public relief, health, and education, despite an expected cut in development spending to support federal economic consolidation.
- Expected cut in the Annual Development Programme.
- Focus on public relief, health, and education.
- Anticipated salary and minimum wage increases.
LAHORE: The Punjab government is set to present its budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 on Tuesday (today), with an estimated outlay exceeding Rs 5 trillion.
Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman will present the proposed budget before the Punjab Assembly for approval. Before its presentation, the proposed financial document will be approved by the Punjab Cabinet.
It may be noted that the provincial government has extended a financial concession of Rs 570 billion to the federal government; however, Punjab is expected to receive over Rs 3 trillion from the divisible pool under the National Finance Commission award. Thus, in alignment with a consensus reached at the National Economic Council (NEC), Punjab’s Annual Development Programme (ADP) is expected to see a visible cut.
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Sources said that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has approved the financial proposals, revealing a heavy focus on targeted public relief, health, and education infrastructure, alongside an aggressive cut to development spending to assist the federal government’s economic consolidation efforts. Moreover, officials expect salary increases for government employees to be aligned with the federal government’s recent decision, while an increase in the minimum monthly wage for workers is also anticipated.
According to the Punjab Finance department, during the budget session, the Finance minister will brief the members of the Assembly on the budget proposals, fiscal priorities, and key features of the budget in detail.
The Budget 2026–27 will be the third budget of the Punjab government under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz Sharif, reflecting a strong commitment to pro-people policies and a vision of sustainable economic development.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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