Sindh govt set to present Rs33trn budget today

KARACHI: The Sindh government is set to unveil its budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 on June 14 (today), with an estimated total of Rs 33 trillion.

The upcoming budget will include allocations for development projects, public sector salaries, and various other sectors. Notably, Rs 959 billion will be earmarked for ongoing development projects across the province.

The budget also proposes a 30 percent salary increase for public sector employees and allocates Rs 163 billion for the Sindh police. Additionally, Rs 322 billion will be set aside for the education sector, and Rs 287 billion will be allocated to the health sector.

The budget anticipates receiving Rs 1900 billion from the federal government. Furthermore, the province expects to generate Rs 650 billion from its own revenues and other income sources.

Earlier in the day, the Pakistan Peoples’ Party (PPP) decided not to compromise on their demands for the 2024-25 budget. Sources indicate that the PPP has been negotiating with the government to resolve the issue, but these talks have not been successful.

Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has given the negotiating team full authority in discussions with the government. Sources have stated that the PPP is disappointed with the government’s attitude and believes it has not fulfilled its commitments. Consequently, the party has decided to adopt a confrontational stance and will no longer tolerate what it perceives as the government’s “non-serious” attitude. The PPP is also considering boycotting the budget session and the voting process.