Balochistan unveils record Rs1,028 billion budget

Proposed budget includes a Rs42b surplus, marking Balochistan's first trillion-rupee budget

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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.