Punjab Slashes Annual Development Budget by 40%

The Punjab government has unveiled a Rs. 752 billion Annual Development Program (ADP) for the next fiscal year, cutting development spending by around 40 percent from last year’s Rs. 1,240 billion.

The reduction comes after the province surrendered Rs. 749 billion to the national exchequer. Despite the smaller outlay, social sectors remain the government’s top priority, receiving the largest share of Rs. 333.66 billion.

Infrastructure development has been allocated Rs. 117.24 billion, followed by the production sector with Rs. 103.25 billion, services with Rs. 86.08 billion, governance and law and order with Rs. 72.95 billion, and climate with Rs. 38.82 billion.

In the social sector, Local Government and Community Development received the biggest allocation of Rs. 115.5 billion, followed by Water and Sanitation with Rs. 62.76 billion.

Key health and education allocations include Rs. 43.1 billion for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education, Rs. 33.2 billion for Health and Population, Rs. 30.5 billion for Higher Education, and Rs. 25.3 billion for School Education.

The infrastructure budget is led by Communication and Works, which has been allocated Rs. 74.1 billion for road networks and public infrastructure projects, while Irrigation will receive Rs. 30 billion.

Agriculture dominates the production sector with Rs. 60 billion. Other major allocations include Rs. 16.65 billion for Industries, Commerce and Investment, Rs. 12.56 billion for Skills Development and Entrepreneurship, Rs. 6.75 billion for Livestock and Dairy Development, and Rs. 6 billion for Tourism, Archaeology and Museums.

In the services sector, transport has received the largest share with Rs. 78.5 billion out of the total Rs. 86.08 billion allocation.

For climate and ecology, the government has set aside Rs. 15.42 billion for Environment and Climate Change, Rs. 15.3 billion for Aquaculture and Fisheries, and Rs. 8.1 billion for Forestry and Wildlife.

Under governance, law and order, Planning and Development has been allocated Rs. 25.35 billion, the Board of Revenue Rs. 18.95 billion, and Police Rs. 12.88 billion.

Other smaller allocations include funds for sports, literacy, special education, women development, social welfare, judiciary, finance, law, home, public prosecution, information technology, excise, and professional development.