Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtabaur Rehman is presenting the provincial budget on Tuesday after the cabinet approved a people-friendly Rs5.9 trillion budget for fiscal year 2026-27.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, provincial ministers and MPAs are attending the session.

The proposed budget for the upcoming fiscal year is 10.7pc higher than the current year’s, according to the budget speech.

The Punjab government has projected total revenue for the upcoming fiscal year at Rs1.2 trillion.

Total current and capital expenditures are projected at Rs679 billion.

The government plans to spend Rs752 billion on development, Rs750 billion on education and Rs500 billion on health. The proposed allocation for education is 15pc higher than the amount allocated in FY2025-26, while the proposed allocation for health is 10pc higher than that of the current fiscal year.

The Punjab government has proposed a 7pc increase in the salaries of government employees, taking total salary expenditure to Rs639 billion.

According to the proposed budget, pensions for retired government employees will increase by 3.5pc, taking total pension expenditure to Rs500 billion.

In the health sector, the government will spend Rs20 billion on the under-construction Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research. According to the proposed budget, Rs169 billion has been allocated for the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District.

The Punjab government has also set aside Rs1.75 billion for Neuro Cath Labs under the Stroke Initiative. A further Rs5 billion has been proposed for emergency services in the upcoming fiscal year.

The government is also proposing a further Rs15.21 billion for a cancer hospital in DG Khan, along with Rs23.37 billion for a children’s hospital in Bahawalpur.

‘People-friendly’ budget

Earlier today, CM Maryam approved a “people-friendly” Rs5.9 trillion provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 after the 35th meeting of the provincial cabinet accorded its formal approval to the budget document.

The chief minster, while chairing the meeting, said the government had made every possible effort to provide maximum relief to citizens and minimise the financial burden on them despite economic challenges and prevailing global conditions.

She added that although the province had to allocate a substantial amount as its share to the federation, the government remained committed to safeguarding public interests.

CM Maryam said the FY 2026-27 budget had been prepared without imposing any new taxes and was focused on public welfare, development and prosperity.

She described it as a budget of hope aimed at delivering relief to citizens through the provinces own resources.

The CM directed the Punjab Revenue Authority to take effective measures to enhance revenue generation and strengthen the provinces financial capacity.

Expressing confidence in the government’s performance, CM Maryam said she hoped the budget would meet the aspirations of the people as in previous years.

She appreciated the collective efforts of the cabinet members and officials, saying the entire team had worked as one unit to prepare a people-friendly budget. She also prayed for the ability to continue serving the people of Punjab with sincerity and dedication.

The CM also lauded the efforts of Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil and the entire team involved in preparing the budget.

More to follow.