Balochistan unveils Rs1.28 Trillion Budget for Fiscal Year 25-26

QUETTA – Finance Minister of Balochistan Mir Shoaib Nosherwani is presenting the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, with a total outlay of Rs1.28 trillion.

In the budget speech, the provincial minister of mineral-rich region announced under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award, the province is receiving Rs743 billion from federal government. This includes shares from divisible pool taxes and direct transfers linked to natural resources, particularly gas. An additional Rs70 billion in federal support is also being allocated.

A key meeting of the Balochistan Cabinet was held under Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti at Chief Minister’s Secretariat, in which budget for fiscal year 2025–26 was approved. Cabinet members unanimously declared the upcoming fiscal year’s budget to be aligned with the needs of the province’s people, development goals, and reform initiatives.

Addressing cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said that despite limited resources, the provincial government prepared a comprehensive and balanced budget, keeping in view public welfare, developmental priorities, and institutional reforms.

According to the briefing given during the meeting, the total volume of the 2025–26 budget has been set at 1,028 billion. 98percent release of development budget during previous fiscal year was major achievement, made possible through the tireless efforts of all ministries, bureaucracy, and the finance team.

He stressed that skill development has remained top priority for Balochistan government. Chief Minister noted that the large project for the solarization of agricultural tube wells is proceeding transparently, with the final installment from the federal government expected soon. In mega projects worth 60 billion rupees, funds are being directly transferred to farmers via the State Bank, which serves as a practical example of transparency.

He said that education was a major challenge, but the Balochistan government has resolved the SBK issue and reactivated 3,200 previously closed schools. In the health sector, a revolutionary step has been taken to link 150 Basic Health Units to a telemedicine system by the end of this month. Regarding pension reforms, the Chief Minister praised the services of the bureaucracy, especially Chief Secretary Shakeel Qadir Khan, and said that reforms essential for long-term financial management have now been successfully completed.

He added that the prosecution department has been taken seriously in this budget to improve the justice system. He also announced that Rescue 1122 would be established in every district next year to ensure rapid response in emergencies.

Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti said new budget emphasizes strategic and livelihood projects. Additionally, irrigation, communication, education, health, law and order, and climate change have been included among the core priorities of the budget.