Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presented the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in the Sindh Assembly, proposing an increase in the minimum wage to Rs43,000 along with salary and pension raises for government employees.
The budget session, chaired by Speaker Awais Qadir Shah, began amid protest and sloganeering by opposition and MQM lawmakers. Opposition members demanded an opportunity to speak on the budget, while the speaker urged members to maintain order and take part in the proceedings.
Before the assembly session, the provincial cabinet approved the Sindh budget 2026-27 in a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. Provincial ministers, advisers, special assistants, the chief secretary, departmental secretaries and senior officials attended the meeting.
The chief minister said the budget had been prepared with a focus on public welfare and poverty reduction. He said special measures for low-income groups had been included on the instructions of PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.
Development Budget
The Sindh government has proposed a development budget of more than Rs656 billion for fiscal year 2026-27.
According to budget documents, Rs641 billion has been proposed for the provincial development programme, while Rs15 billion has been earmarked for district development schemes.
A total of 3,715 development schemes have been included in the budget. More than Rs350 billion has been proposed for ongoing development projects, while Rs34.58 billion has been set aside for unapproved transferred schemes.
The budget also includes more than Rs256 billion under foreign project assistance. The government has proposed Rs1 billion for the social and economic development of riverine areas and Rs250 million for special development initiatives in underdeveloped districts.
Education And Health
Education and health have received major allocations in the proposed development programme.
The education sector has been allocated Rs50.12 billion, while Rs38.89 billion has been proposed for health sector development projects. The school education and literacy sector has been allocated Rs38.21 billion.
The budget also includes funds for colleges, universities and technical education projects across the province.
Sectoral Allocations
The government has proposed Rs9.22 billion for finance department projects and Rs6.30 billion for home department development schemes.
Energy sector projects have been allocated Rs5.18 billion, while Rs4.90 billion has been proposed for agriculture, supply and prices.
The culture, tourism and archaeology sector has been allocated Rs2.78 billion. Forests and wildlife projects have been proposed to receive Rs2.39 billion.
The budget also includes Rs541 million for environment, climate change and coastal development projects, while Rs101 million has been proposed for food department development schemes.
Agriculture Programme
The Sindh Annual Development Programme 2026-27 proposes Rs4.9 billion for the agriculture sector.
The allocation includes Rs656.7 million for nine agricultural extension projects, Rs1.319 billion for three agricultural marketing projects and Rs709.6 million for five agricultural mechanisation schemes.
Agricultural research has been allocated Rs255.2 million, while Rs1.884 billion has been proposed for seven agriculture water management projects.
The government said the agriculture programme would focus on improving productivity, modern machinery, water management and market systems.
Karachi Mega Projects
The Sindh government has proposed Rs14.11 billion for Karachi’s mega development projects in the next fiscal year.
The allocation includes funds for 25 ongoing mega projects in the city. Around Rs6.94 billion has been proposed for 17 unapproved ongoing schemes, while Rs7.17 billion has been earmarked for eight carry-forward projects.
According to the budget proposals, Karachi’s infrastructure projects will remain a development priority in fiscal year 2026-27.
The total throw-forward for Karachi mega projects has been recorded at Rs35.81 billion.
Also Read : Pakistan Allocates Rs117.75bn for Education in Budget 2026-27 as HEC Funding Pressure Continues
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