MIRPUR:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Finance Minister Chaudhry Qasim Majeed on Monday presented a record budget of Rs 286 billion for the financial year 2026-27 in the Legislative Assembly, describing it as the largest budget in the state’s history and a reflection of the government’s commitment to public welfare, economic growth and social justice.
Presenting the budget during the Assembly budget session in the state capital, the Finance Minister said the total expenditure for the new financial year has been pegged at Rs 286 billion, against the revised estimate of Rs 262.165 billion for 2025-26, reflecting an increase of Rs 23.835 billion.
The budget allocates Rs 36 billion for development expenditure and Rs 250 billion for non-development expenditure. The government hopes to generate 75.2 billion rupees in tax revenue, while the variable federal grant has been estimated at 146 billion rupees.
Announcing Education Agenda 2026, Majeed said the government would create 3,308 new teaching posts, rationalize 1,629 existing posts, modernize 709 educational institutions and strengthen over 300 schools in AJK. The package also includes the creation of 109 new educational institutions and the creation of 726 additional positions in higher education institutions.
The Finance Minister said significant allocations had been made to improve health services. Several basic health units will be upgraded to rural health centers, while some rural health centers will be elevated to Tehsil headquarters hospitals.
He also announced the establishment of a modern cardiac hospital at Chakswari and increased stipends for house officers and post-graduate medical trainees.
To strengthen law enforcement, the government approved the establishment of a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) in the AJK Police, with 473 new posts.
A comprehensive martyrs’ package was also announced for police personnel, providing compensation ranging from Rs 100 million to Rs 200 million, depending on the rank, as well as continued salary and benefits for the families of martyred officers until their retirement age.
The annual development program (ADP) for 2026-27 has been set at Rs36 billion, including Rs1 billion in foreign aid.
According to the Minister of Finance, 31 percent of development spending will be allocated to social sectors, 12 percent to productive sectors and 57 percent to infrastructure projects.
The major initiatives include the construction of 671 kilometers of roads, rehabilitation of 394 kilometers of existing roads, construction of RCC and Bailey bridges, expansion of electricity transmission networks, installation of new transformers and provision of 30,000 new electricity connections.
The budget also focuses on digital transformation and economic empowerment. The government plans to establish IT centers of excellence in all districts, digitize land records, introduce e-stamping services and expand telehealth facilities.
In the agriculture and livestock sectors, it will distribute 100,000 fruit plants, establish demonstration plots for growing ginger, turmeric and soybeans, provide subsidies for the purchase of 600 large breed cows and distribute 70,000 poultry to widows and disadvantaged women.
Interest-free loans will be provided to 2,267 qualified youth under the Prime Minister’s Youth Loan Scheme and 30,000 beneficiaries through Akhuwat Islamic Microfinance.
