Lahore, June 15, 2025: The Punjab government is set to unveil its budget for the fiscal year 2025-26 on Monday, with a total outlay exceeding Rs5,300 billion, official sources confirmed on Sunday.
According to budget details, Rs4,060 billion will be allocated for non-development expenditures, while Rs1,240 billion will be earmarked for the Annual Development Programme (ADP). The development budget will cover 3,132 schemes, including 1,441 ongoing projects with an allocation of Rs535.98 billion, and 1,663 new projects receiving Rs470.62 billion. Additionally, Rs233.40 billion will be spent on 28 older development initiatives.
Of the total development allocation, Rs1,115.70 billion will be financed through local resources, while Rs124.30 billion is expected to come from foreign assistance.
Punjab’s budget follows those already presented by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and comes in the wake of the federal budget earlier this month.
Meanwhile, in a significant move under the Finance Bill 2025-26, the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) is reportedly planning to raise the tax-free cash withdrawal limit for non-filers from Rs50,000 to Rs75,000 per day. The revised proposal suggests that cash withdrawals exceeding the new limit would be subject to a 0.8% withholding tax, up from the current 0.6%.
The proposed amendment, presented during a briefing to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Finance, aims to enhance tax compliance and promote financial documentation among non-filers.
The Punjab budget presentation is expected to shed further light on provincial priorities, particularly in the health, education, and infrastructure sectors, amid economic pressures and demands for fiscal discipline.
