Health sector gets Rs500b in budget

LAHORE:

The Punjab government has allocated Rs500.62 billion for the health sector in the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, dedicating more than 10 per cent of the total budget to healthcare and unveiling initiatives aimed at improving medical services, specialised treatment and emergency care. According to budget documents, Rs424.32 billion has been earmarked for non-development expenditure, including salaries, medicines, operational expenses and the day to day functioning of public health institutions.

Another Rs76.3 billion has been allocated for development projects focused on upgrading hospitals, expanding healthcare infrastructure and introducing modern medical technologies.

Although the overall health allocation is lower than last year's budget, the new financial plan has been designed to prioritise high impact projects and accelerate the completion of key healthcare initiatives.