QUETTA: Balochistan on Wednesday unveiled a historic, relief-driven Rs1,089.26 billion surplus budget for fiscal year 2026-27, aiming to strike a balance between strict financial discipline and direct public relief. Presented by Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani in the Balochistan Assembly, the financial blueprint projects total revenues of Rs1,134.92 billion, leaving the province with a healthy net fiscal surplus of Rs45.56 billion.
Salary and Pension Hike
In a move to directly support everyday citizens facing high inflation, the provincial administration announced a seven percent increase in salaries and pensions for government employees, mirroring the federal policy. Furthermore, the government is opening doors for young job seekers by creating 5,000 new public sector positions, particularly across local schools and healthcare facilities.
Finance Minister's Statement
Speaking to the assembly, Finance Minister Nosherwani emphasized that while the province continues to navigate global economic uncertainties, this budget is designed as a document of progress rather than just numbers on a page. He credited Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti's administration with steering the province toward genuine, visible progress rather than relying on empty promises.
Development Fund Utilization
A major highlight was the historic 115 per cent utilisation of development funds over the past year, breaking an old bureaucratic pattern where more than half of the province's development budget routinely went unspent.
Healthcare Budget Boost
The non-development healthcare budget received a massive 30 per cent boost to reach Rs90 billion. This includes expanding the Balochistan Health Card to Rs6 billion, dedicating Rs8.5 billion for free medicines, and financing critical local projects like Quetta's New Trauma Center and specialized Thalassemia centers in Gwadar and Kech.
Education Sector Increase
Education also saw a 15 per cent increase to Rs144 billion, with a major focus on upgrading primary schools and laying down fiber-optic cables to bring high-speed digital learning to remote classrooms.
Digital and Administrative Reforms
To modernise how the province runs, the budget accelerates a digital shift. Manual tax collection is now entirely replaced by the Balochistan E-Pay app, ensuring provincial revenues go directly into the state treasury. The province is also embracing artificial intelligence for swift, merit-based hiring to restore the trust of local youth.
Rural Development Initiatives
For rural communities, the government is rolling out the Kisan Card program with an initial fund of Rs1 billion and dedicating Rs3.8 billion to shift agricultural tube wells to solar energy.
Conclusion
While acknowledging that Balochistan still relies heavily on its share of federal transfers under the National Finance Commission award, provincial leaders concluded that this budget successfully pivots the region away from traditional administrative bottlenecks and moves it toward a transparent, self-reliant future.
