The federal government has shifted the presentation date of the national budget for the fiscal year 2026–27. Initially set for June 5, the budget is now expected to be presented in the National Assembly between June 8 and June 12.
According to the reports, the delay is due to continuing discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and other fiscal targets.
Consequently, the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC), which was to be chaired by Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif to approve the development agendas for both federal and provincial levels, has been deferred.
Documents outline a proposed development budget that exceeds Rs1.1 trillion for the next financial year. Out of this total, federal ministries are allocated Rs754.9 billion for development expenditures.
The Ministry of Water Resources is proposed to receive Rs179 billion. The Cabinet Division has been designated Rs72 billion for development schemes associated with parliamentarians.
The Higher Education Commission has an allocation of Rs41.19 billion, while the Federal Education Ministry is allocated Rs36 billion.
Infrastructure projects under the National Highway Authority (NHA) are assigned Rs264 billion, and the Power Division is allocated Rs91 billion for power sector development.
Together, these state-owned corporations account for Rs355 billion of the total plan. Railway infrastructure projects have a separate proposed allocation of Rs27.83 billion.
For internal security and technology, the Ministry of Interior is assigned Rs16 billion, and the Ministry of Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunications is allocated Rs20 billion. The Ministry of Climate Change has a proposed budget of Rs2.78 billion.
The defense sector sees an allocation of Rs11 billion for development projects under the Ministry of Defence, alongside Rs1.1 billion for the Ministry of Defence Production.
The Board of Investment is designated Rs805 million, and the Finance Division is allocated Rs1 billion.
The Ministry of Information is proposed to receive Rs4 billion. Furthermore, the framework sets aside Rs251.68 billion for regional allocations covering provinces and special areas.
