The Balochistan government has presented its first-ever surplus budget worth Rs 1,028 billion, marking a historic milestone for the province.
The budget, presented by Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shuaib Noshirovani, was announced during a session of the Balochistan Assembly chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai.
According to the budget document, Balochistan government has proposed 10 percent increase in salaries of government employees while 7pc increase has been suggested in pension of the retired government employees. The non-development budget has been set at Rs640 billion.
The provincial government also proposed to increase disparity allowance by 20pc for eligible government employees from BS 1 to BS16. The provincial government said federal revenue for the next fiscal year is estimated at Rs 801 billion while Balochistan's own revenue was projected at Rs 101 billion. Rs 24 billion revenue is expected from the sui gas lease extension bonus. The overall total revenue for the next fiscal year is estimated at Rs 1020 billion with expenditure estimated at Rs 986 billion and total savings in the budget are estimated at Rs 34 billion.
Balochistan government has allocated Rs 249 billion for development expenditure from its own resources, while Rs66.5 billion will be available for federal development projects. The development expenditure financed by foreign aid is estimated at Rs 30 billion.
Balochistan government has allocated 19 percent of the development budget for the Communications Department. More than Rs 55.2 billion 21 allocated for the Communications Department, Rs42.7 billion earmarked for the Irrigation Department and Rs19.8 billion set aside for school education.
Balochistan Finance Minister told the assembly that Rs16.5 billion allocated for development projects in health sector, development budget of the Local Government Department has been set at Rs12.9 billion. Rs10 billion 17 crores allocated for Agriculture Department while development budget of the Energy Department has been fixed at Rs7.8 billion.
Balochistan Finance Minister claimed that Rs4.99 billion set aside for higher education, Rs56 crore allocated for mines and minerals, over Rs15 crore for women development. The Balochistan government has announced Rs12.6 billion for science and technology and Rs17.1 billion for public health engineering department.
Finance Minister Nosherwani said that for Development Budget (PSDP) Rs249.50 billion earmarked while for Non-Development Budget Rs642 billion has been set aside.
He said Provincial Revenue targets have been set at Rs226 billion. Total Rs87.4 billion set aside for health sector with Rs16.4 billion for development and Rs71 billion for non-development.
Finance Minister Nosherwani said education remains one of the government’s top priorities. Under education sector, Rs120 billion allocated for School Education, Rs28 billion for primary education, Rs19.8 billion for development and Rs101 billion for non-development. For Higher Education and Colleges Department Rs29 billion allocated. Rs8 billion allocated for universities. Finance Minister Nosherwani said the Balochistan government will create over 1,170 jobs. He said Law and Order is the top priority of the provincial government. He said Rs86.7 billion earmarked for law and order of the province. Rs51.33 billion allocated for Balochistan Police and Constabulary.
Over Rs84 billion allocated for Communication & Works Department. For Food Rs26.9 million allocated. For local govt and rural areas Rs12.9 billion earmarked for development affairs, Rs42 billion for non-development.
Rs28 billion allocated for Drinking Water Supply. Over Rs47 billion for Irrigation. For transport over Rs1 billion. For Safe City Project Rs18 billion allocated for 8 cities. People’s Train Service to be launched in Quetta in collaboration with Pakistan Railways.
Rs52 billion allocated for solar tube well project. Over Rs8 billion for energy department and Rs500 million allocated to combat climate change.
Finance Minister Nosherwani stated that 100pc of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) was utilised during the current fiscal year, with visible improvements on the ground. The Balochistan government vows to continue its development journey with sincerity, transparency, and a focus on public welfare and institutional reforms.
Earlier, Provincial Cabinet which met under the chair of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has approved budget for next fiscal year 2025-26.
Addressing the Cabinet meeting, CM Bugti lauded Finance Minister and officers of planning and other concerned departments for offering a balanced budget. Balochistan CM said the second batch of 2300 youth will soon leave for training abroad. Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti hoped that the province will receive installment from the federation for conversion of agricultural tube wells on solar. Balochistan Chief Minister demanded transparency in mega projects worth 60 billion. He said the government was opening 3200 government schools which had been closed due to shortage of funds and other challenges. CM Bugti said 150 BHUS will be attached with tele medicines in the province.
He lauded Chief Secretary for pension reforms scheme. Balochistan Chief Minister said irrigation, communication, education, health, law and order and climate change will be given priority in the new budget.
Reporter Essa Tarin