By Junaid Toru
The Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has presented its Budget for the fiscal year 2025–26, with a total outlay of Rs. 1,962 billion, emphasizing socio-economic development, public welfare, and fiscal stability without imposing any new taxes.
Revenue Estimates
Rs. 1,506 billion from Federal Transfers
Rs. 129 billion from Provincial Revenues
Rs. 292 billion for Merged Districts
Rs. 171 billion through foreign-funded projects
Expenditure Plan
Rs. 1,415 billion earmarked for Current Expenditures
Rs. 1,255 billion for Settled Districts
Rs. 160 billion for Merged Districts
Rs. 547 billion proposed for Developmental Projects
No New Taxes:
No fresh taxes introduced across the province.
Stamp duty on property transactions reduced from 2% to 1%.
Property tax exemption for residential/commercial properties up to 4.9 marlas.
Hotel Bed Tax slashed from 10% to 7%.
No new taxation in PATA and merged tribal districts (ex-FATA).
Health Sector:
Health budget increased from Rs. 232 billion to Rs. 276 billion.
Sehat Card Plus funding in settled districts enhanced to Rs. 35 billion.
Establishment of neonatal care units in 5 districts.
Cardiology satellite centers to be launched in Mardan and Bannu.
Education:
Primary education allocation raised to Rs. 363 billion.
Rs. 5 billion set aside to enroll out-of-school children.
Free textbooks to be provided with Rs. 8.5 billion funding.
Rs. 1 billion allocated for temporary teacher hiring.
Higher education budget increased to Rs. 50 billion.
University funding tripled from Rs. 3 billion to Rs. 10 billion.
5 new colleges planned; scholarship endowment fund enhanced by Rs. 1.24 billion.
Police & Security:
Police budget raised to Rs. 158 billion.
Rs. 13 billion allocated for weapons, vehicles, and logistics.
Expansion of Safe City Project and new command centers.
Police Martyrs Package significantly upgraded:
Rs. 11 million (Constable–Inspector)
Rs. 16 million (DSP/ASP)
Rs. 21 million (SP–DIG)
Infrastructure Development:
Rs. 689 million for flood affected roads in Chitral.
Rs. 250 million for Prekot Bypass, Swat.
Dualization of Bannu Ghulam Khan Road at a cost of Rs. 9.6 billion.
LifeStar Ambulance service enhanced to Rs. 17 billion.
Water, Agriculture & Energy:
Clean drinking water:
Northern districts: Rs. 1.287 billion
Southern: Rs. 575 million
Central: Rs. 175 million
Merged districts: Rs. 725 million
200 solar powered tube wells to be installed.
Agriculture initiative: Rs. 500 million for horse breeding in 4 districts.
Irrigation budget raised to Rs. 46 billion.
Public Health Engineering: Rs. 32 billion.
Local Governance & Welfare:
Local Government allocation: Rs. 55 billion.
Modern slaughterhouses in Peshawar, Charsadda, DI Khan, Swat, and Haripur (Rs. 800 million).
Autism Centers to be set up at divisional levels (Rs. 1.2 billion).
Zamung Kor: Five new campuses for orphans (Rs. 600 million).
Youth Affairs budget increased to Rs. 11.6 billion.
Salary & Wage Measures:
10% increase in salaries for government employees.
7% increase in pensions.
Minimum wage raised from Rs. 36,000 to Rs. 40,000.
Disparity Allowance increased to 20%.
Police salaries (Constable to Inspector) brought in line with Punjab Police scale.
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