Tensions flare as PA clears Rs3.67tr in grants

Express Tribune

15 hours ago

The Punjab Assembly on Thursday approved 36 out of 41 demands for grants worth Rs3,667.71 billion for various departments, rejecting all cut motions presented by the Opposition.
The cut motions, which sought to reduce budgetary allocations on grounds of alleged mismanagement and poor performance, targeted key departments such as police, education, health, agriculture, and public health. However, the treasury benches dismissed them by majority vote.
The grants were part of the total Rs4,306 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26.
A day earlier, on June 25, the Assembly had passed five of the demands amounting to Rs638.29 billion.
The presentation of grants followed the conclusion of a five-day general discussion on the budget, led by Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman.
Among the grants approved was Rs1,036.96 billion for miscellaneous expenditures, which drew particular criticism from Opposition lawmakers. Sheikh Imtiaz, a member of the Opposition, argued that this amount made up 20% of the total budget and questioned the lack of transparency about the institutions covered under this category. In response, Finance Minister Rehman clarified that this amount included allocations for various authorities, the Pay and Pension Fund (PF), as well as initiatives related to Women Development, Baitul Maal and Zakat and Ushr. The Assembly also approved Rs125.23 billion for general administration and Rs9.54 billion for housing and physical planning, despite similar objections raised by the Opposition regarding lack of clarity and alleged overlaps with other departments. With the Opposition's cut motions exhausted, the remaining grants were presented and passed through voting.
These included allocations of over Rs.462 billion for pensions, more than Rs.910 billion for development projects, Rs200.10 billion for the police department, Rs258.97 billion for health services, Rs137.53 billion for education, Rs26.53 billion for agriculture, and Rs15.16 billion for public health. Several other departments, including those related to justice, jails, museums, and infrastructure, also received substantial funding through approved demands.