MIRPUR:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed on Monday presented a record Rs 286 billion budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly, describing it as the largest budget in the state’s history and a reflection of the government’s commitment to public welfare, economic growth and social justice.
Presenting the budget during the budget session of the assembly in the state capital, the finance minister said the total outlay for the new financial year has been pegged at Rs286 billion, compared to the revised estimate of Rs262.165 billion for 2025-2026, reflecting an increase of Rs23.835 billion.
The budget allocates Rs36 billion for development expenditure and Rs250 billion for non-development expenditure. The government expects to generate Rs75.2 billion in tax revenue, while the federal variable grant has been estimated at Rs146 billion.
Announcing the education package 2026, Majeed said the government would create 3,308 new teaching posts, rationalize 1,629 existing posts, upgrade 709 educational institutions and strengthen more than 300 schools across AJK. The package also includes the establishment of 109 new educational institutions and the creation of 726 additional posts in higher education institutions.
The finance minister said significant allocations had been made to improve health services. Several basic health units will be upgraded to rural health centers while selected rural health centers will be elevated to Tehsil headquarters hospitals.
He also announced the establishment of a modern heart hospital in Chakswari and increased stipends for house officers and postgraduate medical trainees.
To strengthen law enforcement, the government approved the creation of a Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) within the AJK Police with 473 new posts.
A comprehensive martyr’s package was also announced for police personnel, providing compensation ranging from Rs100 million to Rs200 million, depending on rank, along with continued salary and service benefits to families of martyred officers till their retirement age.
The Annual Development Program (ADP) for 2026-27 is set at Rs36 billion, including Rs1 billion in foreign aid.
According to the finance minister, 31 percent of the development expenditure will be allocated to social sectors, 12 percent to productive sectors and 57 percent to infrastructure projects.
Key initiatives include construction of 671 kilometers of roads, rehabilitation of 394 kilometers of existing roads, construction of RCC and Bailey bridges, expansion of electricity transmission networks, installation of new transformers and provision of 30,000 new electricity connections.
The budget also focuses on digital transformation and economic empowerment. The government plans to establish IT Excellence Centers in all districts, digitize land records, introduce E-stamping and expand telehealth facilities.
In the agriculture and livestock sector, it will distribute 100,000 fruit plants, establish demonstration plots for ginger, turmeric and soybean cultivation, provide subsidies for the purchase of 600 high-breed cows and distribute 70,000 poultry birds among widows and underprivileged women.
Interest-free loans will be extended to 2,267 bright youth under the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Program and to 30,000 beneficiaries through Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance.
