Rs1.028tr Balochistan budget promises development, jobs, pay hikes

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The Balochistan government on Tuesday announced a budget of Rs 1.028 trillion for the financial year 2025-26 (FY 26), emphasizing surplus of Rs 42 billion and public welfare and relief measures.

Holding the budget, Balochistan Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Noshrovani said that Rs 642 billion was kept for non -development costs, while Rs 249.5 billion was proposed in the financial sector development program (PSDP) in the financial year 26.

Noshrovani said that the total estimation costs for the next financial year 26 are Rs 986 billion, while the current operating expenditure volume has dropped from Rs 43 billion to Rs 33 billion.

“The government has increased provincial income and set a target of earning Rs 226 billion in the next financial year,” he said.

“Despite the provincial development program in the financial year 2025–26, a development grant of Rs 66.5 billion and Rs 38 billion has been estimated for federal funded projects as a foreign project assist (FPA).”

He added that under the development budget, about Rs 249.5 billion will be spent on 3,633 ongoing schemes and 2,550 new development projects, which allocates Rs 18 billion for the installation of Safe City projects in eight cities in the next financial year.

The Finance Minister announced that a proposal of Rs 4 billion has been proposed in terms of capital costs for the purchase of necessary goods and machinery – which has been nominated Rs 6 billion as compared to the previous year and Rs 1113 billion as a grant for departments.

Noshrovani also said that the provincial government has successfully spent the entire development budget for this fiscal year.

Describing education, health, climate change, law and order as the priority of the provincial government, the minister announced a 4,188 contract based on the provision of employment to the youth of the province and the establishment of 1,958 regular jobs.

To improve the economic condition of the employees, the Minister said that the government has increased the salaries of the employees from grade 1 to 22 to 10 %. Meanwhile, the provincial government announced a 7 % increase in pensions for retired employees.

“The budget is based on the real needs, economic capacity and ground realities of the province, which aims to ensure balanced growth in both urban and rural areas,” Noshrovani said.

According to the Minister, to build roads and upgrade the current infrastructure, 19 % increase from the current year and upgrade the existing infrastructure, the development budget of Rs 55.19 billion has been assigned to the Department of Communications and works.

“The government has allocated a development budget of Rs 42.78 billion for the irrigation sector to promote agriculture and handle water resources. Great investment is being made in dams, canals and water storage systems.”

Noshrovani said that Rs 24.84 billion will be replaced in the development of educational and higher education – to upgrade educational infrastructure, hire teachers and introduce modern facilities.

The minister announced that “Rs 16.15 billion has been earmarked for upgrading to hospitals, recruiting medical staff, and buying modern health care equipment in FY66.”

For the Department of Science and Information Technology, he said that Rs 12.66 billion has been allocated. According to the provincial minister, as part of the “digital Balochistan” vision, the government will promote e -governance, internet access and tech services.

The Finance Minister said, “With the supply of safe drinking water to the residents of the province, Rs. 17.16 billion will be spent, with the improvement of sewerage and wastewater management solutions throughout the province.”

To strengthen municipalities and solve local issues effectively, Shoaib said Rs 12.91 billion has been earmarked for the local government’s department in the new budget.

In addition, Rs 10.17 billion was allocated for agriculture to help farmers through seeds, fertilizers and modern agricultural tools.

It was also included that Rs 7.84 billion would be spent on the energy department, which would focus on the installation of energy distribution and renewable energy projects to deal with the burden and promote energy reliability.

A total of Rs 567.6 million is preserved for the Department of Mines and Minerals for the development of Balochistan’s full mineral resources through modern and effective methods.

According to the minister, an estimated Rs 154 million has been allocated to empower women in sectors like education, health care and economic participation.