Budgets passed, commoners neglected


Budgets shaped by revenue goals and elite interests fail to address rising public distress

Despite receiving the stamp of approval from elected representatives, the national and provincial budgets for the fiscal year 2025–26 — cleared after rounds of presentations, debates, and motions in the assemblies — offer little by way of inspiration or impact for the general public. Once again, they fall short of making even modest commitments to providing immediate relief or targeted investments aimed at reducing poverty, bridging inequality, or significantly improving essential public services such as healthcare, education, and infrastructure.

Instead, these budgets appear to be well-calibrated documents shaped more by revenue targets, bureaucratic obligations, and the priorities of industrialists and market forces. In contrast, the deteriorating living conditions of ordinary citizens continue to receive minimal attention, and without urgent and meaningful fiscal support, millions will remain deprived of basic necessities — from employment to the ability to afford essential goods.

The National Assembly passed the federal budget with a total outlay of approximately Rs17 trillion. Out of this, Rs1 trillion (6%) was allocated for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), including Rs328 billion for transport projects, Rs39.5 billion for the Higher Education Commission, Rs18.5 billion for other education initiatives, Rs14.3 billion for health, and Rs4 billion for agriculture. The provinces will receive Rs2.869 trillion for their annual development programmes (ADPs).

In Punjab, the provincial government presented a Rs5,335 billion budget with Rs1,240 billion (25%) earmarked for the ADP. Key sectoral allocations included Rs148 billion for education and Rs128 billion for health.

Sindh’s Rs3,452 billion budget included an ADP of Rs520 billion (15%). This comprised Rs99.6 billion for education, Rs45.4 billion for health, Rs73.9 billion for irrigation, and Rs132 billion for local government development portfolios.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Rs2,119 billion budget included Rs366 billion (17%) for development, with Rs27 billion for health, Rs20 billion for education, Rs11 billion for water and sanitation, and Rs7 billion for agriculture.

Balochistan announced its Rs1,028 billion budget, which included Rs249.5 billion (24%) for development. Sectoral allocations comprised Rs42.8 billion for irrigation, Rs24.8 billion for secondary and higher education, and Rs16.2 billion for health.

Yet, critics remain sceptical of both political and administrative intent when it comes to delivering public services meant to uplift the lives of the citizens. Delays in fund disbursement, flawed planning, poor site selection, and late deployment of staff continue to hamper the functionality of even the most ambitious projects — often inflating costs while eroding public trust.

It is also widely acknowledged that the country’s budgets rarely offer short-term optics of wellness or immediate improvements for the common citizens. Instead, they tend to focus on long-term goals or structural reforms which hardly materialise, with little attention paid to current social hardships. This makes them appear irrelevant to the ground realities and the plight of the majority of the population of the country.

To be meaningful, budgets must go beyond the number exercise and become instrument of inclusivity, human development, and accountability. The finance bill should reflect the allocations for actual needs of diverse populations and be shaped with broader stakeholder participation — including civil society — to ensure transparency and relevancy to meet urgent requirements of the underprivileged segments of society.

Above all, political leadership must realise that when budgets fail to prioritise the needs of the majority — particularly vulnerable groups — they only result in further deepening public frustration and discontent. A budget is not just a financial document, it is a test and responsibility of the state towards its commitment to its people for giving them sustainable means of living.

Editorial/Social Track, Karachi (June 27, 2025)

ST file photos



With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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