Projects Rs771b NFC share, announces 5,000 jobs in FY2026-27 budget
The Balochistan government on Wednesday unveiled a Rs1.089 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2026-27, setting aside Rs206 billion for development spending, announcing the creation of 5,000 government jobs. projecting Rs771 billion in transfers under the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award.
The provincial cabinet. chaired by Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti, unanimously approved the budget before Provincial Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani presented it in the Balochistan Assembly.
The total budget outlay stands at Rs1.089tr, including Rs797b for non-development expenditure. Rs206b for the Provincial Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). Of the development allocation. Rs106b has been earmarked for new schemes, while Rs100b has been reserved for the completion of ongoing projects.
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The province will also receive Rs45b under federally funded development projects. Rs40b in foreign project assistance to support investment in infrastructure, education, healthcare, water supply, communications, agriculture and energy.
The government has set a provincial revenue target of Rs170b for the upcoming fiscal year, citing reforms in taxation, improved fiscal discipline. efficient resource utilisation to achieve the goal.
Chief Minister Bugti described the budget as "balanced, realistic. people-friendly", saying the government had prioritised public welfare, sustainable development, employment generation and improved basic services despite limited resources.
He said health, education, clean drinking water, infrastructure and employment remained the government's principal development priorities.
Presenting the budget, Finance Minister Nosherwani announced the creation of 5,000 new government jobs, including 3,000 posts in school. college education, 500 in the health department, 1,000 in newly created districts and another 500 across various provincial departments.
He also announced that Balochistan would receive Rs771b under the NFC Award during the new fiscal year. attributing the increase to improved revenue collection by the Federal Board of Revenue.
The minister said the NFC transfers would strengthen provincial finances and support development initiatives across the province.
Highlighting fiscal reforms, Nosherwani said the government would implement the Treasury Single Account (TSA) system to consolidate funds of government. autonomous institutions, a move aimed at improving transparency, financial management and accountability.
He said the province had collected a record Rs130b in revenue during the previous fiscal year. announced further initiatives to enhance revenue generation, including Legal Assessment Gap and Revenue Assessment Gap surveys to identify untapped tax and non-tax revenue sources.
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According to the finance minister, the Balochistan Revenue Authority contributed Rs59.8b to provincial revenue during the last fiscal year, followed by the Energy Department with Rs36.9b, the Minerals. Mineral Resources Department with Rs21.1b, the Board of Revenue with Rs8.4b and the Excise and Taxation Department with Rs4b.
The government allocated Rs96b for the health sector, including Rs90b in non-development expenditure and Rs6b under the development budget.
Nosherwani said allocations also included Rs7.7b for the Balochistan Health Card, PPHI programmes, medicines, trauma centres, Sheikh Zayed bin Nahyan Hospital. nutrition initiatives.
The budget increases the Balochistan Health Card allocation from Rs4.5b to Rs6b, raises the PPHI grant from Rs7.6b to Rs8.8b. increases the medicines budget by 23 per cent from Rs6.9b to Rs8.5b.
The finance minister also announced 11 new initiatives, including a public-private insurance system through Bolan Insurance Company Limited, Rs3.8b for the solarisation of tube wells, Rs10b for establishing the Bank of Balochistan. Rs3b for the proposed Balochistan Aviation Company.
Other measures include Rs490m for promoting mineral resources. investment opportunities, Rs85m for heritage and archaeology projects, the establishment of e-commerce centres and a third-party validation mechanism for development schemes.
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