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Arab News
10 hours ago
- Business
- Arab News
Pakistan's militancy-hit Balochistan unveils ‘largest' $3.6 billion annual budget
ISLAMABAD: The government in Pakistan's militancy-hit Balochistan on Tuesday unveiled its $3.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2025-26, which provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani described as the 'largest' one in the province's history. Balochistan is Pakistan's largest province by land size but its poorest by almost all social and economic indicators. The province, which borders Iran and Afghanistan, has been the scene of a low-lying insurgency for decades where ethnic separatist militants demand a greater share of the province's mineral resources for locals. Nosherwani presented the budget for the upcoming fiscal year in the Balochistan Assembly in Quetta, with Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai chairing the session. 'For the upcoming fiscal year, the total budget is estimated at Rs1,028 billion [$3.63 billion]— the largest in the province's history,' Nosherwani told lawmakers during the budget session. 'Out of this, the non-development budget is Rs642 billion [$2.26 billion] while the overall provincial development (PSDP) budget is Rs249.5 billion [$878 million],' he added. The finance minister pointed out that the budget includes a Rs42 billion [$148.3 million] surplus, describing it as a 'historic milestone' for the province. Nosherwani said the government has earmarked over Rs120 billion [$423.5 million] for the schools sector and Rs29.1 billion [$102.7 million] for the higher education sector. The provincial government has also allocated Rs87 billion [$307 million] for the health sector, ₨26 billion [$91.8 million] for the agriculture sector and Rs1 billion [$3.53 million] for food, he said. He said the government had decided not to purchase new vehicles, except for the ones required by law enforcement personnel. 'To create employment opportunities in 2025–26, the provincial government plans to introduce 4,188 contract positions and 1,958 regular jobs across departments,' Nosherwani said. He credited the provincial government for not overlooking any segment of society in the annual budget. 'These measures cover government employees, women, pensioners, youth, migrants, laborers— people from every walk of life,' the finance minister said.
Express Tribune
14 hours ago
- Business
- Express Tribune
Balochistan unveils record-largest Rs 1,028 billion budget
Listen to article The Balochistan government has presented its first-ever surplus budget worth Rs 1,028 billion, marking a historic milestone for the province. The budget, presented by Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shuaib Noshirovani, was announced during a session of the Balochistan Assembly chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. In his budget speech, Minister Noshirovani stated that the provincial government had successfully spent the entire development budget for the current fiscal year. He highlighted the achievements across various sectors during the fiscal period, emphasising that the government's focus on development had yielded positive results. The finance minister further noted that the proposed budget includes a surplus of Rs 42 billion. This marks a significant achievement as Balochistan has never before presented a budget exceeding one trillion rupees. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had announced earlier this month that the upcoming provincial budget would prioritise the health and education sectors, with no space for politically motivated development projects. He highlighted that the focus would be on sustainable development and addressing the genuine needs of the people of Balochistan. Bugti assured that the final budget draft would incorporate recommendations from the parliamentary committee to ensure inclusivity and relevance. He also underscored the government's commitment to transparency, particularly in the allocation of development funds. 'Every area and every citizen of Balochistan will be treated equally,' he had said, ensuring that political considerations would not influence the allocation of funds. Meanwhile, provincial government spokesperson Shahid Rind later reiterated that the budget, would focus on promoting economic and social progress in underprivileged areas.
Express Tribune
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PM Shehbaz arrives in Quetta on day-long visit
Listen to article Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Quetta on Saturday for a one-day visit to attend a tribal Jirga and review the overall law and order situation in Balochistan. The prime minister's visit is aimed at aligning political, tribal, and administrative efforts to further peace initiatives in the province. According to officials, Acting Governor of Balochistan Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, and other senior officials welcomed the prime minister upon his arrival. The visit holds significance in the context of direct consultations with the provincial leadership regarding security and stability. PM Shehbaz will participate in a special Grand Jirga, where tribal and political leaders from various districts across Balochistan have been invited. The Jirga will discuss the province's current security challenges and explore local trust-building measures to enhance peace. A large number of tribal leaders, provincial ministers, assembly members, and senior officials are expected to attend. Government sources indicate that the prime minister seeks to engage all stakeholders in a shared vision for sustainable peace, incorporating their suggestions and concerns into national policy. During the visit, the prime minister will also visit victims of the recent Surab bombing to inquire about their health and express solidarity.
