Karachi:
On Wednesday, the SINDH assembly approved RS3.45 trillion budget for the financial year 2025-26-one increase of 12.9% from last year. It also adopted a supplementary budget of RS156,069 billion for the current financial year 2024-25.
Presentation of SINDH Finance Bill proposed, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah highlighted the government’s reform initiatives, including digitization of land registers using blockchain, birth registration via mobile apps, farmers’ access to loans through Sindh Cooperative Bank and the launch of a one-stop soil transfer system.
Budget earmarks RS43 billion for new ad-hoc exemption payments for public employees and RS16 billion for a 15% pension increase.
A total of 188 requirements for reimbursement were submitted, where the opposition submitted 2,002 demolished movements, all of which were rejected by the majority vote – except a joint movement against the special judicial allowance unanimously adopted by both opposition and treasury benches.
The most important budget allocations include RS42.2 billion to public universities, RS10.4 billion for medical education, RS5.2 billion for ambulance services under SINDH Emergency Health Services and RS5 billion for the “Inclusive City” initiative for people with disabilities.
Development expenses are set at RS1,018.3 billion (30% of the total budget), with current revenue expenses estimated at RS2,150 billion. Salaries account for 39%of the budget, non-sales operations for 19%and pensions for 13%.
Sindh government expects to generate RS3,111.5 billion in revenue under FY2025-26 -an increase of 21.4% from the revised estimates of the previous year. Over the next three years, the province expects an average annual turnover growth of 12.5%. If the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) achieves its RS14,131 trillion target, Sindh is likely to receive RS269 billion in federal transfers.
Cm also outlined key development priorities, including RS8 billion for Benazir Hari cards (agricultural subsidies); RS1.8 billion for livestock breeding; Subsidies for solar -powered pipe wells and drip irrigation; RS2 billion for low -income housing; RS2 billion for Sindh Peoples Support Program; RS200 million for orphans and widows and RS500 million per Project to strengthen women in agriculture and SMEs
In health, Awards RS4.5 billion include a SIUT center in Larkana, RS21 billion to Siut, RS23 billion for NicVD, RS16.5 billion for Pphi and RS10 billion for a new hospital in Larkana.
Another RS10 billion is awarded to the Dhabeji-DHA water pipeline and RS3.1 billion for the Hub Canal. RS25 billion is earmarked for green energy and RS45 billion for SDG adjusted public health projects.
