On Tuesday, Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani presented a financial budget of 1028 billion rupees for the coming year in the Balochistan Assembly, while simultaneously announcing the elimination of 6000 unnecessary positions to streamline government operations. The budget session was chaired by Speaker Abdul Khaliq Achakzai, where an additional budget of 36.5 billion rupees was also presented.

The budget allocation includes 642 billion rupees for non-developmental expenses and 245 billion rupees for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). The assembly focused on promoting various sectors including education, health, and infrastructure, with significant funds allocated for rural development.

In addition to job cuts, the budget provided details of a 10 percent increase in salaries for employees and a 7 percent increase for retirees. This increase is part of a broader strategy to improve the living standards of government workers and pensioners during economic adjustments.

The Department of Communications and Construction received a significant portion of the developmental budget, with over 55.21 billion rupees allocated, highlighting the government’s efforts to improve infrastructure. Similarly, the Irrigation Department was allocated 42.78 billion rupees for agricultural and water management facilities.

The education and health sectors also saw generous funding, with 19.85 billion rupees allocated for school development projects and 16.15 billion rupees for improvements in the health sector. This investment aims to strengthen Balochistan’s social services infrastructure and fill critical gaps in public service delivery.

This year’s budget included a new allocation of 18 billion rupees for Safe City projects in 8 cities, aimed at enhancing urban security and infrastructure. Additionally, the budget included a special allocation of 500 million rupees to address environmental issues, reflecting the provincial government’s growing recognition of environmental concerns.

The budget session also discussed a new savings scheme, which includes a restriction on the purchase of vehicles for all except law enforcement, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and cost efficiency in government operations.