Quetta (Web Desk): Balochistan is set to unveil its budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 today (Tuesday) with the total outlay expected to exceed Rs 1trillion. Continuing the trend of fiscal responsibility seen in the current year, the new budget is also projected to be a surplus.
Under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the province is set to receive Rs743 billion in federal revenue transfers.
These funds will come through two major channels: taxes collected under the divisible pool and direct transfers linked to the province's natural resources, such as gas. Compared to the ongoing fiscal year, this marks an increase of Rs70 billion in federal funding.
In addition to federal transfers, Balochistan anticipates generating more than Rs150 billion from its own revenue sources, which include provincial taxes and non-tax income.
On the expenditure side, non-development spending is likely to surpass Rs700 billion in the upcoming fiscal cycle.
Meanwhile, over Rs240 billion is expected to be set aside for development projects. The government plans to prioritize funding for critical sectors such as education, law and order, health, infrastructure, and agriculture. Education alone is likely to receive an allocation exceeding Rs160 billion.
The law and order sector is expected to get over Rs100 billion, while the health sector is projected to receive close to Rs80 billion. Additional funding will be directed toward enhancing agriculture, improving infrastructure, and strengthening governance mechanisms.
With the federal government having announced salary hikes for public sector employees, Balochistan’s budget is also anticipated to address pay raises and benefits for provincial employees, many of whom have recently staged protests demanding better compensation.
The budget will likely outline the government’s position on salary and pension adjustments, changes in taxation, and potential employee-related incentives.
At the same time, the provincial administration is placing renewed emphasis on improving its revenue collection systems and tackling longstanding infrastructure bottlenecks.
The upcoming budget aims to maintain a balance between development priorities and essential operational expenditures, setting the tone for sustainable growth in the year ahead.