Balochistan's Rs1.028tr surplus budget focuses on youth, health, education

The Balochistan government on Tuesday presented a surplus budget worth Rs1,028 billion for the fiscal year 2025–26, focusing heavily on youth employment, education, healthcare, law and order, and development of rural areas.

Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani highlighted the key achievements and fiscal priorities during his budget speech, emphasizing that Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has placed public welfare at the centre of governance.

“We’ve made sincere efforts for development and have implemented all decisions with transparency. The Balochistan government is moving in the right direction,” said Nosherwani. "We have taken steps to improve the standard of living of the people, which are being seen in practice." 

Budget highlights

• Total Budget: Rs1,028 billion

• Surplus: Rs42 billion

• Development Budget (PSDP): Rs249.50 billion

• Non-Development Budget: Rs642 billion

• Provincial Revenue Target: Rs226 billion

Key allocations by sector

Health

• Total: Rs87.4 billion

  • Rs16.4 billion for development

  • Rs71 billion for non-development

Health remains one of the government’s top priorities.

Education

• Total School Education: Rs120 billion

  • Rs28 billion for primary education

  • Rs19.8 billion for development

  • Rs101 billion for non-development

• Higher Education and Colleges Department: Rs29 billion

  • Rs24.1 billion for non-development

  • Rs5 billion for development

  • Rs8 billion allocated for universities

  • Rs3 billion allocated for Balochistan by HEC

  • Rs500 million allocated for college transport

• Recruitments:

  • 1,170 contract and 67 regular posts created

Rs1 billion was saved in the process of providing free textbooks in schools. 

Law and Order

• Total Allocation: Rs86.7 billion

  • Rs83.7 billion for non-development

  • Rs3 billion for development

• Rs51.33 billion allocated for Balochistan Police and Constabulary

Only law enforcement agencies will be allowed to purchase new vehicles under the austerity plan

Infrastructure & public services

• Communication & Works Department: Over Rs84 billion

  • Rs66.8 billion development, Rs17.48 billion non-development

• Food: Rs26.9 million allocated for development, Rs1.19 billion for non-development
• Local govt and rural areas: Rs12.9 billion earmarked for development affairs, Rs42 billion for non-development

• Drinking Water Supply: Rs28 billion

• Irrigation: Over Rs47 billion

• Transport: Over Rs1 billion

• Safe City Project: Rs18 billion allocated for 8 cities

People’s Train Service: To be launched in Quetta in collaboration with Pakistan Railways, with upgrades to three existing and two new stations

Agriculture & energy

• Agriculture: Rs26.9 billion (development), over Rs1 billion (non-development)

  • Rs52 billion solar tube well project being completed

• Energy Department: Over Rs8 billion

• Climate Change: Rs500 million allocated to combat climate change

Other departmental allocations

• Board of Revenue: Rs10 billion

• Mines & Minerals: Rs3.62 billion

• Fisheries: Rs6 billion

• IT Department: Rs15 billion

• Social Welfare: Rs5.94 billion

• Women Development: Rs714 million

• Labour Department: Rs3.66 billion

• Tourism, Culture & Archaeology: Rs1.45 billion

• Sports & Youth Affairs: Rs3.94 billion

• Forests & Wildlife: Rs4.32 billion

• Excise & Anti-Narcotics: Rs2.80 billion

• Population Welfare: Rs2.46 billion

• Livestock: Rs1.26 billion
• Industries: Over Rs10.29 billion

Fiscal responsibility & reforms

• 6,000 unnecessary posts eliminated to curb non-development expenditure

• 4,188 temporary and 1,958 regular posts being created in various sectors

• No new government vehicles will be purchased, except for law enforcement needs

• Emphasis placed on rural development, transparency, and reducing non-productive spending

Finance Minister Nosherwani stated that 100% of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) was utilised during the current fiscal year, with visible improvements on the ground. The Balochistan government vows to continue its development journey with sincerity, transparency, and a focus on public welfare and institutional reforms.

“Allah has blessed Balochistan with immense natural resources. It’s our duty to utilise them effectively to uplift the people of this province,” Nosherwani concluded.