The Sindh Chief Minister, Murad Ali Shah, has presented a budget of Rs 3.562 trillion for the next fiscal year 2026–27, proposing a 7 percent increase both in salaries and pensions of government employees, along with allocations of Rs 620 billion for education and Rs 393 billion for health, while the minimum monthly wage has been set at Rs 43,000.
Sindh Chief Minister, while beginning his budget speech, said that by the grace of God, he is presenting the Sindh budget for the 13th time on Wednesday.
He described it as an honour and a great responsibility to present 11 consecutive budgets, adding that no other elected public representative has had the opportunity to present the budget so many times in a row.
The Chief Minister of Sindh paid tribute to the brave armed forces of Pakistan for their sacrifices and services, saying that they are the guarantors of the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He stated that Pakistan has become a strong voice for peace, stability, and principled diplomacy in the region. He further noted that during the Iran crisis, Pakistan played a role in reducing tensions and promoting peace.
The budget deficit is expected to be Rs 36.9 billion, while revenue has been estimated at Rs 3.562 trillion. The Sindh budget is based on four key principles: constitutional rights, fiscal sustainability, national stability, and public welfare. In coordination with the federal government, the development portfolio has been reduced from Rs 575 billion to Rs 400 billion. Sindh’s share under the NFC Award has been secured in consultation with the federation.
The Chief Minister of Sindh announced a special relief package for the education, agriculture, insurance, and employment sectors. He said that the sales tax on educational support services has been reduced to 5 per cent. An amount of Rs 13.2 billion has been allocated for the social protection package, which includes initiatives such as kitchen gardens, the Benazir Hari Card, and the Benazir Women Agriculture Workers Program. Under this package, assistance schemes for widows and orphans will also continue.
Concessionary tax rates will remain in place for beauty salons and overseas employment recruiting agencies linked with Point of Sale (POS) systems.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, while announcing reductions in taxes on insurance agents and brokers, said that the exemption threshold for the agricultural super tax has been increased from Rs 150 million to Rs 500 million, and the tax rate has been reduced from 10 per cent to 8 per cent. The size of the Annual Development Program (ADP) for the new fiscal year has been set at Rs 400 billion, with the highest allocation of Rs 121.6 billion earmarked for local government and municipal infrastructure.
More to follow…
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