The Punjab government will present its third budget on June 16, with no new taxes being imposed, according to reports on Monday.
Punjab to present third Budget on June 16
Provincial Finance Minister Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman announced the date during a pre-budget roundtable conference that had been organised by the Punjab Finance Department.
He said that the budget is being prepared on the instructions of Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz Sharif, keeping public needs and welfare in focus.
Punjab budget 2026-27
The upcoming budget will prioritise investment in industrial infrastructure and economic zones to promote business growth and create employment opportunities.
The minister said that for the first time in Punjab’s history, stakeholders were invited before the budget to present their suggestions and concerns.
Representatives from chambers of commerce and industry, academia, donor organizations, agriculture and textile associations, media, civil society, and professional bodies participated in the conference.
Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman also highlighted the government’s performance over the past two years. He said that work had started on all announced development projects, while several had already been completed.
Punjab schemes
He described the “Apni Chhat Apna Ghar”, “Suthra Punjab”, “Kisan Card”, and “Ramazan Nigehban Package” as the government’s flagship programs.
Under the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar scheme, around 133,990 housing loans have been issued so far.
The minister said that the scope of the Suthra Punjab program had been expanded from cities to villages.
Last year, Rs106 billion was allocated for the project, and Rs99.41 billion has been released during the current fiscal year.
Punjab floods
He also acknowledged that the previous fiscal year was challenging due to severe floods that affected 27 districts of Punjab.
Further, he said that the provincial government provided nearly Rs50 billion in assistance to flood victims from its own resources without federal support.
He added that the government reduced fuel related expenditures by up to 50 per cent to manage financial pressures coming from international developments.
CM Maryam Nawaz, provincial ministers, and parliamentary secretaries also did not receive two months’ salaries. In addition to this, other lawmakers faced a 25 per cent salary deduction.
The minister said the government remains committed to avoiding new taxes despite limited resources and a population of around 130 million.
Instead, it plans to increase revenue through expansion of the tax net, industrialisation, and ease of doing business.
