Punjab earmarks billions for labour welfare, social protection and food security

The Punjab government has proposed major investments in labour welfare, social protection, food safety and revenue generation in the fiscal year 2026-27 budget, allocating billions of rupees for new projects aimed at improving workplace safety, employment opportunities, consumer protection and food security across the province.

According to budget documents, the government has allocated a development budget of Rs630 million for the Labour and Human Resource Development sector, under which several new initiatives will be launched for labour protection, employment promotion, elimination of child labour and institutional reforms.

A key component of the programme is the establishment of Occupational Safety and Health Centres in Rawalpindi, Gujranwala and Rahim Yar Khan. The government has allocated Rs150 million for the project, which aims to introduce modern facilities to ensure safer and healthier working environments for labourers.

The budget also earmarks Rs75 million for the establishment of Employment Facilitation Centres across Punjab. These centres will provide career guidance, employment information and job placement support to job seekers.

Another Rs75 million has been allocated for establishing a Labour Market Research Cell to conduct studies on workforce requirements, employment trends and labour market needs across the province.

To strengthen technical and inspection capacity, Rs50 million has been allocated for the purchase of modern equipment for newly established testing facilities, while another Rs50 million will be spent on the renovation and improvement of district labour office buildings.

The government has also allocated Rs45 million for the identification and mapping of occupational diseases affecting workers in factories and industrial sectors.

As part of efforts to combat child and forced labour, a Child Labour Elimination and Advocacy Unit will be established at a cost of Rs45 million.

The budget further allocates Rs32 million to improve working conditions for brick kiln workers and Rs30 million for the second phase of the digital transformation of the Directorate General of Labour Welfare.

Social welfare projects

The Punjab government has proposed a development budget of Rs2 billion for the Social Welfare Department, focusing on persons with disabilities, women, senior citizens and welfare institutions.

According to the documents, Rs600 million has been allocated for the second phase of the assistive devices programme for persons with disabilities, aimed at enhancing mobility, independence and social inclusion.

The government has also earmarked Rs310 million for the establishment of old-age homes equipped with modern facilities for senior citizens.

For women's empowerment, Rs250 million has been allocated for the upgradation of industrial centres across Punjab to support skills development and economic independence.

The budget includes Rs80 million for establishing Women Protection Centres in Sahiwal, Sargodha and Bahawalpur to provide protection, legal assistance and support services for women.

In addition, Rs70 million has been allocated for the establishment of model garment villages across the province.

The government has also proposed Rs115 million for rehabilitation and improvement of existing social welfare facilities and Rs50 million for developing a modern management information system for the Social Welfare Department.

Food safety and consumer protection

The budget allocates Rs900 million for food safety and consumer protection initiatives aimed at ensuring safe food standards, protecting consumer rights and strengthening institutional capacity.

A major allocation of Rs249 million has been proposed for the establishment of Punjab Food Authority House in Lahore, which will serve as the authority's central headquarters.

The government has also allocated Rs200 million for establishing a Food Testing Laboratory and Punjab Food Authority Training School in Rawalpindi to improve food testing capabilities and professional training.

To strengthen agricultural marketing information systems, Rs150 million has been earmarked for the establishment of Marketing Facilitation Centres.

Another Rs124 million has been allocated for monitoring essential commodities and prices across Punjab.

The budget also includes a special programme to identify risks and vulnerabilities faced by consumers, while Rs50 million has been allocated for the digital transformation of the Consumer Protection Council.

Revenue and food security

Budget documents show that the Punjab government has allocated Rs13.98 billion under the Board of Revenue for direct tax administration and revenue-related operations in the fiscal year 2026-27.

The government expects the allocation to support tax collection efforts, expand the provincial revenue base and generate additional resources for development projects.

According to the documents, direct taxes amounting to Rs72.20 billion have been projected in the provincial budget.

Officials said strengthening the Board of Revenue's financial resources would help improve revenue mobilisation and support long-term fiscal sustainability.

The government has also allocated Rs48 billion for the Food Department to support wheat procurement, storage operations and food security measures across the province.

The allocation is aimed at ensuring the availability of essential food items, maintaining strategic reserves and supporting price stability in Punjab.

According to budget documents, the provincial government has prioritised food security, revenue generation and institutional reforms as part of its broader strategy to strengthen public service delivery and support sustainable economic growth in the coming fiscal year.