• Opposition says provincial govt not fulfilling responsibilities
• Rs14.5bn allocated in budget for police procurements
• Rs3.3bn earmarked for Safe City projects in Upper and Lower South Waziristan, Orakzai, Kurram, Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur districts
• Public sector universities’ grant increased to Rs11.8bn
• Sehat Card Plus budget raised to Rs50.4bn
• Rs10bn set aside for setting up 72 Chief Minister Model Schools, Rs36bn for Peshawar revitalisation plan
• Rs100m allocated for welfare of transgender community

PESHAWAR: Presenting the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi said that it would give financial stability to the province.

Since 2013, when the PTI came into power for the first time, he said, the province had been facing financial challenges, but was now on its way towards development.

He made these remarks while former chief minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur was also present in the provincial assembly.

Earlier, the opposition lawmakers, led by leader of the opposition Dr Ibadullah protested and chanted slogans against the budget inside the house, and PTI workers inside the visitors’ gallery with treasury lawmakers responding with slogans in favour of the provincial government and their incarcerated leader, Imran Khan.

Later, while talking to media persons, Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) lawmaker Ahmad Karim Kundi stated that the provincial government was not fulfilling its responsibilities.

He stated that they supported the provincial government and had sent the provincial government’s representatives to Islamabad to bring the province’s share and accused that they, instead of safeguarding the provincial rights, surrendered its grant.

He stated that the opposition had been supporting the government in its fight for its water share, besides the most important NFC share, while at the same time accused that the provincial government had issued different statements — one in Islamabad and another one in the provincial capital.

Mr Kundi informed media persons that it was the opposition lawmakers’ duty to hold the provincial government accountable. “We told them that PPP will support you, but the provincial government has failed to contest its financial case,” he said

He said that the provincial government had failed to achieve its targets, it had fixed in the budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. “Where are the provincial government’s targets for the current budget. Has the provincial government achieved its targets,” the opposition lawmaker questioned.

Budget allocations

According to the budget speech, the provincial government has allocated Rs14.5bn for police procurement, including Rs7.7bn for purchase of modern weaponry and arms and ammunition, Rs18bn for purchase of bullet proof vehicles, armoured personnel carriers, Rs3.5bn for the purchase of thermal cameras, anti-drone systems and communication equipment, while Rs1.2bn for bulletproof vests and helmets for the police personnel.

An amount of Rs7.9bn has been allocated for police monthly operational support, Rs1.7bn for Safe City projects in Upper and Lower South Waziristan, Orakzai and Kurram district, while Rs1.6bn for the same purpose in Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur district.

Rs1bn has been earmarked for setting up a drone based policing and patrolling system in the province while Rs600m has been allocated for forensic science lab in the provincial capital.

Public sector universities grant in aid has been increased to Rs11.8bn from Rs10bn in current fiscal.

Besides, Rs1.5bn has been allocated for a youth internship programme and Rs5bn for establishment of Khyber Institute of Applied and Modern Sciences while Rs5bn for first tribal medical college.

An amount of Rs380m has been allocated in the next fiscal for setting up a medical college.

In the social sector, Rs100m has been allocated for welfare of the transgender community, while the Sehat Card Plus budget has been increased to Rs50.4bn from Rs41bn in the current fiscal.

Medical teaching institutions’ budget has also been increased to Rs80bn from Rs65bn in current fiscal.

Around Rs270m has been allocated for a new general hospital in Peshawar, which would be completed at a cost of Rs4bn.

In the education sector, Rs10bn has been allocated for setting up 72 Chief Minister Model schools across the province. Similarly, Rs36bn has been allocated for the Peshawar revitalisation plan.

A sum of Rs7bn has been allocated for construction of a flyover at the junction of GT Road and Ring Road, Rs4.8bn for the construction of underpasses on Ring Road, Rs3.7bn for construction of underpasses on Ramdas Chuwngi, Lahori Chowk and University Road.

Similarly, Rs1.5bn has been earmarked for the missing link of Ring Road and 7.5bn for purchase of additional buses for the Peshawar BRT and operational subsidy of the mass transit.

Around Rs98.99m has been allocated for development projects in environment sector and Rs13.2bn for solarisation of homes in merged areas.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2026