The Government of Punjab will present its third provincial budget on June 16, and continuing its policy of providing relief to the public, the government will not impose any new taxes in the upcoming budget, as was the case in the previous two budgets.
On the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the budget is being formulated with a strong focus on public welfare and the evolving needs of the people. Investment in industrial infrastructure and employment generation will remain among the key priorities of the next fiscal year’s budget.
These remarks were made by Punjab Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman while addressing the Round Table Pre-Budget Conference 2026-27, organized by Punjab Finance Department here on Monday.
The Finance Minister stated that for the first time in Punjab’s history, the government has formally invited stakeholders from all major sectors to present their concerns and recommendations prior to the formulation of the provincial budget. He said the initiative reflects the government’s commitment to preparing a truly participatory and people-oriented budget.
The conference brought together representatives of international development partners, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, academia, the Institute of Chartered Accountants, agricultural and textile associations, media organizations, and civil society.
Highlighting the Punjab Government’s performance over the past two years, the Provincial Minister said that, for the first time, a government had initiated work on all of its announced development projects while successfully completing several of them. He identified Apni Chhat Apna Ghar, Suthra Punjab, Kissan Card, and the Ramazan Nigehban Package as the flagship initiatives of the present government.
He informed participants that 133,990 housing loans have so far been disbursed under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar Programme. The Suthra Punjab Programme has expanded its operational reach from district and tehsil headquarters to villages across the province. An allocation of Rs106 billion was made for the programme during the previous fiscal year, while Rs99.41 billion has been released in the current financial year. The Minister noted that the effective utilization of these funds is clearly demonstrated through the comprehensive sanitation arrangements made across Punjab during Eid-ul-Adha.
Discussing the province’s economic outlook, the Finance Minister observed that the previous fiscal year had been challenging for both the federal and provincial governments. Punjab faced the worst floods of the century, affecting 27 districts. Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, he said, the Punjab Government became the first provincial administration in the country’s history to undertake the rehabilitation of flood victims entirely through its own resources, without seeking financial assistance from the federal government, distributing approximately Rs50 billion in relief.
Referring to the financial pressures arising from regional geopolitical tensions between the United States and Iran, the Minister stated that the provincial government reduced official fuel expenditures by up to 50 percent as part of its austerity measures. The Chief Minister, Provincial Ministers, and Parliamentary Secretaries voluntarily waived two months’ salaries, while a 25 percent deduction was made from the salaries of other Members of the Provincial Assembly.
He further stated that 220,000 eligible motorcycle owners received Rs200 per month to help offset fuel expenses, while 226,000 farmers were provided financial assistance at the rate of Rs1,500 per acre. In addition, Rs750 million was spent on providing free public transport facilities for the general public. Despite these extraordinary challenges and relief measures, the government successfully implemented more than 100 public welfare initiatives.
Addressing the participants, the Finance Minister emphasized that the Pre-Budget Round Table Conference is not a symbolic exercise but a meaningful consultative process. He assured stakeholders that every feasible recommendation presented during the conference would be given due consideration for inclusion in the forthcoming provincial budget. However, he stressed that the full implementation of development proposals requires enhanced tax compliance and broader revenue generation.
He noted that the available financial resources remain insufficient to meet the needs of Punjab’s 130 million population, yet the government remains committed to protecting the public from additional tax burdens. Instead, it is pursuing a strategy focused on broadening the tax base, promoting industrialization, and improving the ease of doing business to strengthen provincial revenues.
The Finance Minister announced that the upcoming budget would place special emphasis on the development of economic zones and industrial infrastructure, alongside introducing concrete measures to support the growth and competitiveness of all industrial sectors.
Welcoming the recommendations put forward by representatives of the Chambers of Commerce and Industry, academia, media, and civil society, the Provincial Minister announced that future Pre-Budget Round Table Conferences would be convened in May each year, allowing stakeholders’ proposals to be incorporated into the budget formulation process in a more timely and effective manner.