The Minister of Finance of Punjab, Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman, presented a budget of 5,335 billion rupees on Monday for the 2025-2026 exercise in the provincial assembly, which describes him as a plan “adapted to the” aligned on the vision of the development of the chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif.
The provincial cabinet, led by the chief minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, approved the budget before the session.
CM Maryam addressed the 27th meeting of the provincial cabinet, announcing a zero tax budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.
The chief minister declared that the budget reflects “each rupee as a public trust” and is guided by “responsibility before God”.
In his speech, Maryam Nawaz underlined a 47% increase in the annual development program (ADP), which brought it to Rs1 240 billion, while ensuring that no new tax was introduced. “This is a zero tax budget and also the biggest development budget in Punjab history,” she said.
She noted that despite recording allowances, “no financial scandal has emerged”, creating an improvement in financial discipline, electronic tension processes and an emphasis on transparency and good governance.
“Instead of increasing the taxes, we will focus on expanding the tax net,” she said, while expressing dissatisfaction with the performance of the Punjab Revenue Authority, adding that there is a place for improvement. “”
CM Maryam Nawaz has described several achievements and objectives, including the launch of 100 innovative development projects, 94 new public programs and the construction or expansion of 12,000 kilometers of roads. “700 roads are currently under construction,” she added.
The chief minister reaffirmed the emphasis put by his government on health and education, promising the supply of free drugs and the infrastructure upgrades in public schools. She also announced that the minimum wage had been set at RS40,000 and called for the digitization of salary systems.
Maryam Nawaz has attributed the efforts of his team, applauding the principal minister and the performance of the chief secretary, noting that his father, the former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, also praised the work of the cabinet.
“We have declared an emergency in Punjab and delivered. We have encountered IMF conditions and still presented a budgetary surplus of 740 billion rupees, “she said.
It also referred to a possible bonus system based on performance for civil servants and said that the province had made a 94% reduction in local loans.
Calling the 2025-2026 budget, a “historic public service package”, she concluded, “work ethics in Punjab has transformed. Power is a trust of God; Serving people is our mission. “
The main Minister of Planning and Development Marriyum Aurangzeb and the Minister of Finance Mujtaba Shuja Ur Rehman gave detailed briefings during the session.
In an article on the social platform X, the main minister Marriyum Aurangzeb said that the annual development program (ADP) was increased by 47%, from 842 billion rupees to 1,240 billion rupees – despite a global “compressed” budgetary space. Government operating expenses increased by only 3%, even with wages and pension increases.
Punjab Highlight Budget
Head Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif approved the annual Punjab budget.
Despite a relatively compressed budget, the ADP increased by 47% from 842 billion to 1240 billion billions of dollars while the government’s operational expenses increased by only 3%, even after salary and pension, etc. pic.twitter.com/ddmksqifwf– Marriyum aurangzeb (@marriyum_a) June 16, 2025
Aurangzeb described the budget as a historical and strategic realignment of priorities, calling it a departure from obsolete traditions under the “intrepid leaders and reformists of the chief Minister”.
