Balochistan assembly passes Rs119 billion supplementary budget for FY2025-26

The Balochistan Assembly on Saturday approved a supplementary budget exceeding Rs119 billion for fiscal year 2025-26, clearing all 46 demands for grants covering both development and non-development expenditure without any cut motions from the opposition.

The supplementary budget comprises more than Rs61.29 billion in non-development spending and over Rs58.19 billion in development expenditure aimed at addressing urgent financial requirements and supporting ongoing projects before the close of the fiscal year on June 30.

Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani presented the supplementary budget through 46 separate demands for grants, including 21 relating to non-development expenditure and 25 linked to development spending. All demands were approved by the house.

Among non-development allocations, the energy department received the largest share at more than Rs28.35 billion, followed by Rs12.67 billion for the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and Rs5.40 billion for the health department. Additional funds were also approved for sports and youth affairs, science and information technology, culture and tourism, the provincial ombudsman and several other departments.

The development component included allocations for communications and works, public health engineering, colleges and higher education, health, forest and wildlife, local government, transport, school education, women development and urban planning.

Major development allocations comprised Rs18.64 billion for the Balochistan Special Development Initiative (BSDI), Rs16.03 billion for multi-departmental schemes and Rs10.66 billion for communications and works projects.

At the start of the sitting, opposition lawmakers sought a discussion on the supplementary budget. However, Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti asked members to first complete the approval process, saying debate could take place afterwards.

Presiding over the session, Speaker retired Captain Abdul Khaliq Achakzai directed the finance minister to move the grant demands one by one. No opposition member moved a cut motion against either the development or non-development expenditure proposals.

Following approval of all supplementary grants, the assembly session was adjourned.