ISLAMABAD:
On Sunday, the National Assembly formally began approval of the 2026-27 federal budget, approving 125 subsidy demands worth Rp 9.171 trillion after rejecting 307 cut motions brought by the opposition by a majority vote.
The House met with President Sardar Ayaz Sadiq as Chairman. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb submitted grant applications related to the National Assembly, Senate and 31 ministries and divisions for approval.
The opposition filed 307 court motions, including 90 against 18 Cabinet Division lawsuits, 116 against six Energy Division lawsuits, and 100 against 12 Finance Division lawsuits. All court motions were rejected by the chamber.
The House approved 1.53 trillion rupees for the Cabinet Division, rejecting all 90 cut motions. It also approved Rp 4.262 trillion for the Finance Division and Rp 6.61 trillion for the Energy Division, with opposition cut motions defeated in both cases.
Among other approvals, the House authorized 389 billion rupees for the Climate Change Division, 279.9 billion rupees for Commerce and 1.25 trillion rupees for Communications. Defense allocations amounted to Rs 3.06723 trillion, while Rs 2.11 billion was approved for the Defense Production Division.
Economic Affairs received Rs 150.1 billion, Federal Education and Vocational Training Rs 1.2126 trillion and Foreign Affairs Rs 681.7 billion. Housing and Works was allocated Rs 223.1 billion, Human Rights Rs 23.3 billion, Industries and Production Rs 295.3 billion, and Home Affairs and its attached departments Rs 450.4 billion.
The Information and Broadcasting Division received Rs 275.7 billion, Information Technology Rs 420.7 billion and Inter-Provincial Coordination Rs 50.2 billion. Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan were allocated Rs 31.8 billion, Law and Justice Rs 249.1 billion and Maritime Affairs Rs 41.2 billion.
The National Assembly received Rs 90.3 billion, the Senate Rs 32.1 billion and the National Health Services Rs 532.8 billion. Parliamentary Affairs was allocated Rs 12 billion, Planning Division Rs 372.1 billion and Privatization Division Rs 17.4 billion.
Railways received 1.1113 trillion rupees, religious affairs 24 billion rupees, science and technology 197.4 billion rupees and water resources 1.07 trillion rupees. Separately, debate on demands worth Rp 1.24286 trillion related to the Home Affairs, National Food Security and Poverty Alleviation Divisions will continue on Monday, along with 280 cuts motions from the opposition.
(WITH INPUT FROM THE APP)
