Karachi:
The Sindh Assembly approved on Wednesday the RS3.45 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, an increase of 12.9% compared to last year. It also approved a complementary budget of RS156.069 billion for the current fiscal year 2024-25.
When presenting the Sindh Finance Law, Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah highlighted the Government Reform initiatives, including the digitalization of land records using blockchain, birth registration through mobile applications, access to farmers to loans through the Sindh Cooperative Bank and the launch of a single land transfer system.
The budget allocates RS43 billion for new assignments of AD-Hoc relief for government employees and RS16 billion for an increase in the pension of 15%.
A total of 188 subsidies were presented, with the opposition presenting 2,002 cutting motions, all of which were rejected by the majority of votes, except a joint motion against the special judicial allocation, which was approved by unanimously the banks of the opposition and the treasure.
The key budget allocations include RS42.2 billion for public universities, RS10.4 billion for medical education, RS5.2 billion for ambulance services under emergency health services of Sindh and RS5 billion for the “inclusive city” initiative for people with disabilities.
The development expense has been established at RS1,018.3 billion (30% of the total budget), with the current income expense estimated at RS2,150 billion. Salaries represent 39%of the budget, non -salary operations for 19%and pensions for 13%.
The Sindh government expects to generate RS3,111.5 billion in revenues during fiscal year2025-26, an increase of 21.4% with respect to the reviewed estimates of the previous year. During the next three years, the province anticipates an average annual income growth of 12.5%. If the Federal Income Board (FBR) achieves its objective of RS14,131 billion, it is likely that Sindh receives RS269 billion in federal transfers.
The CM also described the key development priorities, including RS8 billion for Benazir Hari card (agricultural subsidies); RS1.8 billion for cattle raising; Subsidies for tube wells with solar energy and drip irrigation; RS2 billion for low -income homes; RS2 billion for the support program of the Peoples of Sindh; RS2 billion for orphans and widows, and RS5 billion per project to empower women in agriculture and SMEs
In health, the assignments include RS4.5 billion for a Siut Center in Larkana, RS21 billion for Siut, RS23 billion for Nicvd, RS16.5 billion for PPHI and RS10 billion for a new hospital in Larkana.
Other RS10 billion have been assigned for the Dhabeji-Dha and RS3.1 billion water pipe for the Hub channel. RS25 billion is intended for green energy and RS45 billion for public health projects aligned with SDGs.
