Punjab Government Presents Tax-Free Budget of 5.335 Trillion PKR for Fiscal Year 2026-2025, Focusing on Education, Health, and Agriculture

Lahore: The Finance Minister of Punjab, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman, presented a tax-free budget of 5.335 trillion PKR for the fiscal year 2026-2025 in the Punjab Assembly, emphasizing key sectors such as education, health, and agriculture.
According to Dawn News, during his budget speech, the provincial finance minister highlighted that Punjab’s resources are being used efficiently to serve the public, and the governance has improved due to fiscal discipline. He credited e-tendering and good governance for the absence of any major scandals, and affirmed that the budget would focus on critical areas such as health, education, and agriculture.
Shujaur Rehman also stated that, similar to the previous year, the 2026-2025 budget is tax-free, and measures are being taken to tackle serious issues like climate change. The minister mentioned the growing importance of IT and industrial cities in the region, and expressed confidence that the new budget would set new records for development in Punjab, providing much-needed relief to the public.
When presenting the budget details, Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman remarked that under the leadership of Maryam Nawaz, Punjab is on a mission to eliminate poverty and unemployment. He mentioned that laptops were distributed among students without discrimination, and that Punjab is undergoing extensive developmental work. He attributed Punjab’s progress to Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, stating that she is leading the province toward a prosperous future.
The Finance Minister further revealed that the development budget for Punjab has seen a 47% increase, which includes the introduction of emergency ambulance services on motorways for the first time in history. He added that more than 4,300 surgeries were performed under the CM Punjab Children’s Heart Surgery Program, while 20,000 patients benefited from free dialysis services.
The government has also extended interest-free loans worth 106 billion PKR to 1 million farmers, and launched a Model Agricultural Markets Scheme in the districts of Narowal, Okara, and Layyah at a cost of 1.1 billion PKR. In addition, medical colleges are being established in Narowal, Okara, and Layyah.
Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman stated that a significant amount of funds had been allocated for free medicines, and a Food and Nutrition Program has been initiated. He mentioned that the Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Institute is under construction in Sargodha.
In his speech, the Finance Minister also paid tribute to Pakistan’s military for their historic victory over India, adding that during the war, Punjab’s Chief Minister had played a leading role. He condemned Israel’s expansionist agenda and criticized the unwarranted attack on Iran.
Shujaur Rehman highlighted that under the CM Punjab Scheme, universities will receive 27 billion PKR worth of laptops, and 5 billion PKR have been earmarked for facilities in schools.
Regarding the health sector, he revealed that the development budget for health has been set at 181 billion PKR, with 450 billion PKR allocated for non-developmental health expenditures. He also announced 12 billion PKR for the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Institute Research Center and 109 billion PKR for land acquisition related to the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District. Additionally, 9 billion PKR have been allocated for the Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic Program.
Maryam Nawaz on Record Budget Allocation for Education and Health
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed her happiness over the tax-free budget, stating that no new taxes have been introduced for the second consecutive year in Punjab.
In a conversation with the press, Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the largest-ever budget for education and health in Punjab’s 77-year history has been allocated. She said the goal is to equip the youth of the province—who are the future of the country—to actively contribute to national development.
The Punjab government’s budget sets the stage for a transformative year ahead, with significant investments in public welfare and essential sectors.