PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi's discretionary funds have been reduced from Rs500 million to Rs400 million in the 2026-27 budget, Finance Adviser Muzammil Aslam announced during a provincial assembly session.
JUI member raises concerns over discretionary allocations
Earlier, JUI member Rehana Ismail informed the House that discretionary allocations for chief ministers had increased significantly over time. She cited figures showing Rs30 million for Pervez Khattak, Rs40 million for Mahmood Khan, Rs500 million for Ali Amin Gandapur, and Rs4.4 billion for Sohail Afridi.
In response, the finance adviser clarified that the Rs4.4 billion figure was the result of a technical error and has now been rectified in the budget documents. He stated that while Rs500 million had been allocated for the chief minister's discretionary fund last year, it has been reduced to Rs400 million in the current budget.
Technical error rectified in budget documents
Muzammil Aslam emphasized that the corrected allocation reflects the government's commitment to fiscal transparency. The reduction of Rs100 million from the discretionary fund aligns with the provincial government's broader efforts to rationalize expenditures and ensure efficient use of public funds.
The announcement comes amid ongoing debates in the assembly about the need to limit discretionary spending and redirect resources to development projects. The finance adviser assured the House that the revised budget documents accurately reflect the reduced allocation.
