Punjab Finance Minister Presents Rs5.9 Trillion Provincial Budget

Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtabaur Rehman presented the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27 in the assembly on Tuesday. The budget, amounting to Rs5.9 trillion, was previously approved by the provincial cabinet during its 35th meeting. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, along with provincial ministers and MPAs, attended the session where the budget was presented.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif formally approved the budget during a cabinet meeting. She characterized the budget as "people-friendly," stating that the government endeavored to offer maximum relief to citizens and minimize their financial burden, despite existing economic challenges and global conditions.

Chief Minister Sharif emphasized that the FY 2026-27 budget was formulated without introducing any new taxes. Its primary focus is on public welfare, development, and prosperity. She described it as a budget of hope, designed to deliver relief to citizens using the province's own resources. She also noted that despite a substantial allocation as the province's share to the federation, the government remained committed to safeguarding public interests.

The Chief Minister issued a directive to the Punjab Revenue Authority to implement effective measures for enhancing revenue generation, thereby strengthening the province's financial capacity. She expressed confidence in the government's performance, hoping the budget would align with the aspirations of the people, similar to previous years. She also acknowledged the collective efforts of cabinet members and officials involved in its preparation, including Senior Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb, Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman, Information Minister Azma Zahid Bukhari, Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman, and Finance Secretary Mujahid Sherdil.

According to Dawn Pakistan, more details regarding the budget are expected to follow.