PkMAP Rejects Federal Budget 2026–27, Terms It Anti-People and Unconstitutional

Quetta (Kudrat Daily) — The central secretariat of Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP) has outright rejected the federal budget for the fiscal year 2026–27, describing it as anti-people, unconstitutional, and misleading.

In a press release, the party said the budget was a “numbers game” that failed to serve the interests of the public. According to the statement, budget laws and the budget manual set the maximum budget deficit at 11 percent, whereas the current budget projects a deficit of more than 29 percent, which the party claims is a violation of established rules.

PkMAP stated that the total size of the federal budget is Rs18.771 trillion, while projected revenue for the fiscal year stands at Rs11.751 trillion, resulting in a deficit of Rs7.020 trillion. The party noted that Rs8.054 trillion has been allocated for debt servicing and nearly Rs3 trillion for defense expenditures, consuming a significant portion of national income.

The statement argued that additional borrowing would be required to run the country’s affairs, making government claims of economic improvement unrealistic.

The party also criticized the allocation of federal funds to departments that fall under provincial jurisdiction, including education, health, industry, irrigation, information technology, livestock, and agriculture. According to PkMAP, such allocations are inconsistent with the constitutional division of powers.

Referring to the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), the party alleged that certain measures related to the use, sale, and allocation of public assets are unconstitutional and should not have been incorporated into the budget framework.

PkMAP further criticized the government’s privatization policy, arguing that the sale of national institutions and public assets is against the national interest. The statement cited the proposed privatization of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), claiming that the sale of public assets at undervalued prices would amount to an injustice to the public.

The party warned that the current budget could further worsen Pakistan’s economic situation and expressed skepticism that existing economic policies would address the country’s challenges. It urged political and democratic forces to play an active role in protecting public interests and national assets.