LAHORE: The Punjab Assembly on Monday approved all 38 supplementary budget grants of Rs 554.825 billion for the fiscal year 2025–26 amid an opposition boycott, while the provincial government announced that the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026 would be presented before the House for approval during the Assembly’s August session.
The assembly session began with a two-hour delay under the chairmanship of Speaker Malik Muhammad Ahmad Khan. Opposition Leader Moin Riaz Qureshi strongly opposed the Punjab Control of Habitual Offenders Bill 2026, describing it as a violation of fundamental rights and freedom of expression. Opposition member Rana Aftab Ahmad read out a letter addressed to the speaker, demanding that the bill be referred to a committee for further constitutional and legal scrutiny.
The Speaker clarified that the government would not table the bill during the current session. Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman later announced that the legislation would instead be presented for approval in the August session, and debate on the bill was deferred until then.
The House subsequently began debate on the 38 supplementary budget grants. Opposition lawmakers Hafiz Farhat Abbas, Zulfiqar Bhatti, Sheikh Imtiaz, and Nadeem Qureshi criticized the government over the alleged unequal distribution of development funds, water shortages, corruption, and the neglect of Multan and other regions.
Responding to the criticism, Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb defended the provincial budget and the government’s performance. She stated that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had provided 170,000 houses during the past 14 months. She further announced that 3,000 electric buses would be operational across Punjab by next year, with the fleet expanding to 5,000 before the end of the government’s term. She said water supply and sewerage projects were underway in 86 cities, while clean drinking water schemes worth Rs42 billion were being completed in South Punjab. She also announced plans to establish wastewater treatment plants in every city of the province.
The senior minister also defended the purchase of an aircraft for the Chief Minister, arguing it had been acquired to improve public service delivery and enable a swift response during emergencies.
During the proceedings, the opposition pointed out a lack of quorum. After the required quorum was restored, the session resumed. However, opposition members later staged a walkout, protesting what they described as insufficient time allocated for their speeches. However despite the boycott, the House approved all 38 supplementary budget grants for the 2025–26 fiscal year.
Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman also announced four months’ honorary salary for employees of the Punjab Assembly, the Law Department, 90 Shahrah, and other relevant government departments.
After completing the day’s agenda, Deputy Speaker Zaheer Iqbal Channar adjourned the House until 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026