CM Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif Signs Budget Document.
Lahore : Provincial cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, approved budget 2025-26, with a total outlay of Rs 5335 billion. The Cabinet approved a development budget of Rs 1240 billion, the largest in the history of the country and the province. 27% of the total budget has been esrmarked for health and education, and 73% for public investment. The budget proposed a 10% increase in employees’ salaries and a 5% increase in pension. Madam Chief Minister directed the authorities concerned to increase the minimum wage from Rs 37,000 to Rs 40,000 per month. She also directed them to digitize payment of all types of wages in Punjab, besides ensuring the use of protective equipment for laborers and workers. She also directed the relevant authorities to register wedding halls, marquees, restaurants and farmhouses in Punjab by July 20, besides issuing an immediate notification in this regard.
Madam Chief Minister was briefed,”Rs 630.5 billion are allocated for health, Rs 811.8 billion for education, Rs 411.1 billion for local government community development, Rs 210.1 billion for police, Rs 245.7 billion for housing and public health, Rs120 billion for roads, Rs 141.5 billion for transport, Rs 129.8 billion for agriculture, Rs 16.6 billion for environment protection, Rs 36 billion for forests, wildlife and fisheries, Rs 79.5 billion for free medicines, Rs 61 billion for Nawaz Sharif Medical District, Rs 50 billion for Apni Chhat, Apna Ghar, Rs 35 billion for Ramadan package, Rs 46 billion for e-bus, Rs 35 billion for governance and IT, Rs 3.5 billion for e-taxi, and Rs 85 billion for Lahore Development Program.” She was also apprised,”Rs 25 billion have been allocated for Punjab Development Program, Rs 10 billion have been allocated for Model Village, Rs 15.5 billion for CM Tractor, Rs 18 billion for Government Universities , Rs 15 billion for Honhar Scholarship Program, Rs 40 billion for schools, Rs 3.5 billion for Clinic on Wheels, Rs 9.7 billion for Health Clinic , Rs 14.5 billion for Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital, Rs 18.3 billion for Health Centers, Rs 9.4 billion for Jinnah Institute of Cardiology, Rs 4.5 billion for Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha, Rs 6 billion for Children’s Hospital Rawalpindi, Rs 25 billion for Health Insurance, Rs 3.6 billion for Transplant Program , Rs 3.2 billion for Children’s Heart Surgery Program, Rs 8.6 billion for Dialysis Program, Rs 6.2 billion for Ease of Doing Business, Rs 28 billion for Mass Transit Projects of Faisalabad, Lahore and Gujranwala, Rs 15 billion for agricultural tubewells & Kisan Card, Rs 20 billion for water reservoirs, Rs 11.5 billion for Safe City Project, Rs 5 billion for Film Finance Fund, Rs 50 billion for CM Punjab Local Road Program, Rs 3.6 billion for Minority Card, Rs 15 billion for Laptop Program, Rs 40 billion for Ration Card, Rs 10 billion for Sahulat Bazaar, Rs 9.4 billion for free books and Rs 7 billion for School Meal Program have been proposed.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
