The Punjab Assembly witnessed a heated debate on Sunday over the provincial government's Rs566 billion supplementary budget. Opposition lawmakers accused the ruling PML-N of prioritizing official luxuries over public welfare, while treasury members defended the additional spending as necessary to sustain development projects and strengthen public services.
Opposition Criticizes Supplementary Budget as 'Package of Extravagance'
Opening the debate, opposition lawmaker Sheikh Imtiaz questioned the need for the sizable supplementary budget, claiming that the government had failed to win public confidence. 'People are no longer willing to pay taxes to the Punjab government,' he said. He described the supplementary budget as 'a package of extravagance,' alleging that billions of rupees had been earmarked for VVIP travel, bulletproof vehicles, and the security of senior officials instead of education and healthcare.
Referring to the recent increase in petroleum prices, he criticized the provincial government and questioned the timing of the hike. He alleged that Rs10 billion had been spent on VVIP travel and objected to the purchase of a bulletproof vehicle costing Rs99 million. Imtiaz also criticized allocations for official residences, Governor House facilities, and other administrative expenditures, arguing that public funds were being diverted towards the comfort of the bureaucracy.
Police Budget and Development Initiatives Questioned
Imtiaz questioned an additional allocation of Rs41 billion for the police, claiming that increased security spending would not resolve the government's political challenges. He further criticized the branding of development initiatives under the chief minister's name, saying governments should be recognized through performance rather than publicity campaigns. He maintained that funds should instead have been directed towards education, healthcare, and social welfare, while lamenting what he described as the discontinuation of the health card programme.
Farmers' Crisis and Agricultural Policies Under Fire
Opposition member Nasir Cheema shifted the debate towards the plight of farmers, saying agriculture, dairy farming, fish farming, and poultry farming were all facing severe crises. He alleged that wheat imports from Ukraine had inflicted heavy losses on local farmers and urged the government to announce support prices for crops and regulate milk prices. 'Anyone associated with farming today is suffering losses,' he said.
Cheema also called for increased irrigation infrastructure, construction of dams, and greater investment in agriculture to reduce dependence on imports. He criticized the outsourcing of government schools and basic health units, alleging that the policy had weakened public education and healthcare services. He further claimed that the Kissan Card programme had failed to provide meaningful financial relief to farmers.
Allegations of Funds Diverted to Bureaucracy
Another opposition legislator, Zarnab Sher, accused the government of transferring Rs566 billion 'from the pockets of the people into its own coffers.' She alleged that supplementary allocations overwhelmingly favored ministers and the bureaucracy, pointing to increased allocations for the Chief Minister's Office, Governor House, police, and counterterrorism operations. She also rejected a proposed Rs7 billion allocation for government aircraft expenses and urged the judiciary to ensure justice for those allegedly facing legal action in the aftermath of the May 9 incidents.
Treasury Defends Supplementary Budget as Fiscal Achievement
Defending the supplementary budget, treasury member Syed Zulfiqar Ali Bukhari said the government had achieved a 99 per cent revenue target and around 90 per cent utilisation of its development budget, describing both as major fiscal achievements. He said the province had maintained a budget surplus of Rs910 billion while allocating Rs25 billion for healthcare, Rs29 billion for redesigning the Health Card programme, Rs25 billion for agricultural infrastructure, and Rs55 billion for development initiatives in the riverine ('Katcha') areas of south Punjab.
Bukhari also noted that Punjab had contributed Rs600 billion in revenues to the federation and stressed that public resources should continue to be utilised for the welfare of citizens. He urged greater domestic manufacturing of agricultural machinery and fertilisers to reduce reliance on imports.
People-Friendly Budget Lauded by Treasury Members
Treasury MPA Rana Muhammad Arshad congratulated PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on what he described as a 'people-friendly budget.' He said the provincial government had launched numerous development projects, improved the education sector, constructed major road infrastructure, and significantly reduced street crime through improved policing. He also highlighted the expansion of the Green Bus service across Punjab and thanked the chief minister for development projects undertaken in his constituency.
