LAHORE: Punjab’s budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, with a proposed outlay exceeding Rs5 trillion, will be presented on Tuesday. Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman will unveil the budget after receiving approval from the provincial cabinet.
According to official sources, the government has earmarked Rs650 billion for salaries of government employees. Meanwhile, Rs505.8 billion has been proposed for pension payments.
The development budget accounts for 47 per cent of the total proposed outlay. Furthermore, Punjab is expected to receive Rs3.793 trillion under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
The province also expects to generate Rs1.330 trillion through duties and other provincial revenue sources. These receipts will support government spending during the new fiscal year.
Sources said the government has proposed an allocation of Rs800 billion for the Punjab Finance Commission. In addition, more than Rs900 billion has been earmarked for the education sector.
Punjab’s total expenditure is estimated at Rs3.569 trillion. After meeting these expenses, the province expects to retain a development and fiscal space of nearly Rs1.562 trillion for public investment and financial management.
The provincial government has already extended a financial concession of Rs570 billion to the federal government. This support remains part of the province’s broader fiscal framework.
Moreover, the proposed budget allocates Rs25 billion for social protection programmes. The Suthra Punjab Programme is also expected to receive Rs150 billion to improve sanitation and waste management across the province.
The proposed allocations highlight the Punjab government’s focus on education, infrastructure, social welfare and fiscal stability while maintaining room for future development projects in the 2026-27 financial year.
The Punjab government has proposed major allocations for healthcare, social welfare and subsidy programmes in the 2026-27 budget to strengthen public services and provide relief to vulnerable communities.
The health sector is expected to receive an overall allocation of Rs680 billion. Moreover, the government has proposed Rs100 billion to ensure the provision of free medicines across the province.
In addition, separate funds have been earmarked to support medicines and treatment for cancer and stroke patients. These allocations aim to improve access to essential healthcare services.
The budget also proposes more than Rs200 billion for ongoing initiatives launched by the Chief Minister. These projects are expected to continue under the new financial plan.
Meanwhile, the Parwaz Card programme is likely to receive an allocation of Rs7 billion. Similarly, the Kisan Card scheme has been allocated an estimated Rs10 billion to support farmers.
Furthermore, the Himmat Card and Minority Card programmes are expected to receive a combined allocation of Rs3 billion. The funding aims to expand financial assistance for deserving groups.
The government has also proposed Rs35 billion for the Ramadan Package. The initiative will provide relief to eligible families during the holy month through targeted support.
Additionally, more than Rs80 billion has been earmarked for various subsidy programmes. These measures are intended to reduce the financial burden on citizens and support low-income households.
The proposed allocations reflect the Punjab government’s focus on strengthening healthcare, expanding social protection and continuing welfare initiatives in the upcoming fiscal year.
