The Sindh government on Friday presented a deficit budget of Rs3.45 trillion for the fiscal year 2025-26, with a shortfall of Rs38.45 billion.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah unveiled the budget in the Sindh Assembly session chaired by acting Speaker Naveed Anthony.

The budget includes substantial increases in salaries and pensions, significant allocations for education and healthcare, and major development initiatives across the province.

According to the budget document, salaries of government employees in grades 1–16 will be increased by 12%, while those in grades 17–22 will receive a 10% raise. Pensions are proposed to be increased by 8%.

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A total of Rs102 billion has been earmarked for education, reflecting a 12% increase, and Rs45.4 billion for healthcare, up by 8% from the previous year.

Projects for urban infrastructure, including the Safe City project and road improvement initiatives in Karachi, have also been included in the development portfolio.

In his budget speech, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stated that poverty alleviation, clean water supply, and green energy remain top priorities for the provincial government.

The government has abolished five types of taxes, reduced the motor vehicle tax, and granted tax exemptions on various services. Funds have also been allocated for the welfare of lawyers and journalists.

Opposition disrupts budget session

The budget session witnessed intense protests from opposition members.

During the budget speech, opposition lawmakers surrounded the speaker’s dais, raised slogans, and tore up copies of the budget documents.

The Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) attempted to introduce a resolution condemning Israeli aggression, which the acting speaker ruled inadmissible.

In his speech, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said it was a matter of great pride for him to present the budget on behalf of the people of Sindh.

He said the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) drew strength from the vision of Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Benazir Bhutto and that the party had received a clear mandate from the public in the 2024 general elections.

The Sindh Assembly later passed a resolution condemning Israeli attacks on Iran.

Shah said, “We all condemn the Israeli aggression. Our hearts are with the victims. The world community must take notice.”

He also expressed sorrow over a recent aircraft accident in India and lauded Pakistan’s armed forces for their bravery in defending the nation during recent tensions. “Pakistan’s security is above politics,” he added.

Development plans and social welfare

Shah announced that Rs 1,018 billion had been allocated for development expenditures.

The budget includes plans to launch 1,000 electric buses in different cities, 500 of which will operate in Karachi. He also proposed the establishment of an “Inclusion City” for children with special needs and announced that 800,000 houses would be built for flood-affected families.

The chief minister revealed that over 25,000 new police recruits had been appointed and that police health benefits and the martyrs’ compensation package had been enhanced.

Police stations were also granted direct financial powers, and reforms in traffic systems were introduced through AI-based highway surveillance.

Next year, 35,000 students will be offered vocational training.

Additionally, the budget for the Sindh Education Foundation has been increased, and thousands of schools have been renovated with support from Unicef.

Record spending in healthcare

Shah noted that Rs344 billion had been spent on health services this year.

He highlighted the performance of NICVD, which treated more patients than any other facility in Pakistan, and the expansion of SICVD’s hospital network.

At Gambat Institute, 308 liver transplants were performed this year alone.

The Sindh Institute of Child Health and Neonatology (SICHN) was hailed as the world’s largest pediatric health network. At JPMC, the number of beds was doubled over the past two years.

Despite IMF restrictions, Shah said his government had achieved record developmental progress and remained committed to delivering better public services, especially in health, education, water supply, and transport.