125 demands for grants approved: NA rejects over 200 cut motions

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Sunday approved 125 demands for grants exceeding Rs4.40 trillion for various ministries and divisions, while rejecting more than 200 cut motions moved by opposition lawmakers, in a move to secure funding for government expenditure through the financial year ending June 30, 2027.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb presented demands for grants in the House for approval.

The House rejected cut motions moved by opposition members, mostly from Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), numbering over 200, on the demands for grants of the Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Finance, and the Cabinet Division.

On the defence and security front, the House sailed through nearly Rs3 trillion in demands for grants for Defence Services without a single objection from either side of the aisle, including the opposition PTI.

READ MORE: Aurangzeb moves Finance Bill in Senate amid protest

It also approved Rs17.1 billion for the Defence Division, Rs298.05 billion for the Combined Civil Armed Forces, Rs21.65 billion for the Airports Security Force (ASF), and Rs21.82 billion each for the Interior and Narcotics Control divisions.

On the intelligence and accountability front, the House also quietly cleared hefty allocations of Rs22.96 billion for the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Rs7.74 billion for the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), with the approvals sailing through without any visible resistance.

About Atomic Energy and the nuclear sector, the House passed Rs22.58 billion for Atomic Energy, Rs2.36 billion for Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, and Rs1.34 billion for Capital Outlay for Atomic Energy.

It also approved 12 demands for grants worth over Rs4,282 billion for the Ministry of Finance, while rejecting 100 cut motions submitted by the opposition.

For Housing, Planning and Development, the House passed Rs142.694 million for Naya Pakistan Housing Authority, Rs5.93 billion in demands for grants for Housing & Works Division, Rs9.58 billion for Planning, Development & Special Initiatives, Rs27.63 billion for Development Planning Division and Rs16.39 billion for Civil Works (Capital) for the financial year ending June 30, 2027.

About Information/IT/Media, the House approved demands for grants of Rs11.01 billion for Information and Broadcasting, Rs15.9 billion for Miscellaneous Information & Broadcasting, Rs22.5 billion for IT & Telecommunication Division and Rs19.58 billion for Development IT Division.

About demands for grants for Transport and Communication, Rs354.958 million for Communications Division, and Rs36.14 billion for other Communications expenditure.

For Pakistan Post Office – Rs25.54 billion; Railways Division – Rs70.48 billion; Communications Development Loans – Rs59.26 billion; Communications Development Projects – Rs4.44 billion for the financial year ending June 30, 2027. Demands for grants for Education and Training: the House approved Federal Education Division – Rs42.75 billion; Higher Education Commission (HEC) – Rs66.43 billion; NAVTTC (total) – Rs8.99 billion; and Education Development – Rs28.41 billion. For Health and Social Services, the House approved Rs37.22 billion.

For Law and Justice Division – Rs11.12 billion; Federal Judicial Academy – Rs354.570 million; Federal Shariat Court – Rs1.13 billion; District Judiciary ICT – Rs1.85 billion; National Assembly – Rs9.04 billion; Senate – Rs3.22 billion; Parliamentary Affairs – Rs1.21 billion; and Council of Islamic Ideology – Rs322.355 million.

About Water/Environment/ Climate: Climate Change Division – Rs1.32 billion; Water Resources Division – Rs4.24 billion; Water Development Loans – Rs55.25 billion; and Climate Development Projects – Rs2.48 billion.

About Science/Technology/ Industry: Science & Technology Division – Rs15.97 billion; SUPARCO – Rs4.90 billion; Industries & Production – Rs22.88 billion; and Industrial Development (Capital) – Rs6.66 billion, etc.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026