Punjab today gives a huge amount of money for big plans to make the state better. This decision, made by the government in a key meeting, means many parts of Punjab will see essential changes soon. The money will help build new things and fix old ones, aimed at helping common people. This move comes as the state works to speed up crucial work and bring new benefits to its citizens quickly. This massive funding promises a fresh start for the region.
Big Money for State Programs
The Punjab government has given its approval for a large amount of money to be spent on plans to make the state better for everyone. A total yearly budget of around Rs 5,330 billion (which is 5. 33 trillion) has been proposed for the financial year 2025-26. A big part of this, about Rs 1,246 billion, is set aside for various projects to help the state grow and improve. This fresh approval includes specific large sums for different crucial areas. For example, Rs 336 billion has been put aside for building and improving basic services like roads. This makes up about 27 percent of the total Annual Improvement Plan. The government also approved a special fund of over Rs 29. 24 billion to fix up Lahore’s old Walled City and other public welfare projects. Just recently, the Provincial Improvement Working Party also gave its nod to nine big plans for farming, local area management, roads. bridges, adding up to more than Rs 52. 357 billion for the 2025-26 financial year.
| Area of Spending | Proposed Fund (Billions of Rupees) | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Overall Improvement Plans (Annual) | 1,246 to 1,202 | Part of the total Rs 5,330 billion yearly budget for 2025-26. |
| Building and Basic Services (Infrastructure) | 336 | 27% of the total Annual Improvement Plan. |
| Roads | 120 | For building and fixing roads across the state. |
| Education | 811. 8 (total), 148. 5 (for specific projects) | Includes money for making schools better, scholarships. new universities. |
| Health | 630. 5 (total), 181 (for specific projects) | For improving hospitals, offering free medicines. new medical colleges. |
| Farming | 80 to 129. 8 | For increasing farm output, irrigation. helping farmers. |
| Walled City Lahore Fix-up | 29. 24 | For old buildings, power lines. city services in Lahore. |
Why This Money is Needed
Punjab is facing many big problems that need these funds. As a state that shares a border with another country, it faces extra costs and challenges that make it harder to attract new businesses and money from outside. This has meant less growth in factories and trade. The state also has serious environmental issues. The air, water. soil are in bad shape, leading to more health problems, including cases of a serious sickness called cancer. A very big worry is the amount of water taken from under the ground. Most of the underground water sources are being used up too quickly. Money troubles are also a big concern. Punjab has a growing amount of debt, meaning it owes a lot of money. One expert noted that the state has been taking on more and more loans, often just to pay back old loans. A recent survey showed that Punjab spends very little of its money on long-term improvements compared to other states, because a large part of its earnings goes to paying back loans, salaries. pensions. The state also struggles to raise enough money from its own taxes. The Punjab government has asked the central government for a large sum of money, about Rs 1 lakh crore, to help with its money problems. It has also asked for Rs 1,000 crore to make police services and safety better in border areas.
What the Money Will Do
The newly approved funds will go into many essential areas, aiming to bring about big improvements across Punjab. A large portion, Rs 120 billion, is set for roads to make travel easier and connect different parts of the state. There is also a special program called ‘Chief Minister’s Sadaken (Roads) Bahal Punjab Khushhal Programme’ which will get Rs 50 billion in the next budget to fix and rebuild roads all over Punjab. Over Rs 24. 5 billion will be used to build a fast road to connect southwestern areas like Layyah and Bhakkar to the main highway. Specific cities like Lahore, Rawalpindi. Faisalabad will see projects like new dual roads and better sewage systems. In education, a huge sum of Rs 811. 8 billion is set aside, with Rs 148. 5 billion directly for school and college improvement projects. This is a big jump from last year. Money will be used to make 100 government senior secondary schools into ‘Schools of Brilliance’ and 100 primary government schools into ‘Schools of Happiness.’ There are also plans to set up new medical colleges and burn treatment centers, with Rs 79. 5 billion for free medicines in government hospitals. The Children’s Heart Surgery Program has been approved to speed up 12,000 heart operations for children. For farming, Rs 80 billion is planned to boost output and help farmers. Punjab has also been very good at using money from the national Agriculture Infrastructure Fund, getting an extra Rs 2,337 crore (about Rs 23. 37 billion), bringing its total to Rs 7,050 crore (about Rs 70. 5 billion) from this fund. This money helps farmers with things like cold storage and better ways to handle their crops after harvest. The government will also give out 30,000 tractors to farmers through the Green Tractor Program, with a Rs 1 million discount on each. Farmers will also get help to set up solar-powered water pumps. Funds are also approved for better local city services, special education. programs to help people read and write. Money will also go towards improving the environment, for example, Rs 5. 7 billion for a program to clean the air.
Who Said What About It
Government leaders have spoken about the new budget with hope. Malik Abrar Ahmed, a Member of the National Assembly from the PML-N party, said that this budget is a step forward, with very large amounts of money set aside for health and education. He believes it shows Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif’s goal to make Punjab a top example for helping people grow and for public welfare. Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema has said that the budget for 2024-25, which is over Rs 2 lakh crore (2 trillion), puts health, education. farming as key focus areas. He also pointed out that no new taxes have been added. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann praised the budget, saying it helps build a ‘Rangla Punjab,’ meaning a vibrant or colorful Punjab, through fair and complete improvement of the state. But, not everyone agrees. Partap Singh Bajwa, a leader from the Congress party, called the 2024-25 budget “failed.” Some economic experts have also shared worries about Punjab’s financial state. Dr. Lakhwinder Singh, an economist, noted that Punjab’s debt situation is serious and the state is mostly borrowing to pay off interest on old loans, leaving little money for new plans to make things better. Another economist, Ranjit Singh Ghuman, said that the rising debt is caused by promises made to win votes, not enough ways to bring in money, poor use of funds. money being taken from welfare programs. He believes that money given out for free should go only to those who truly need it. There are also reports that Punjab has faced a money shortage and has even asked its own government departments to quickly return funds to the state treasury.
Next Steps for the Plans
With the large funds now approved, the next steps involve putting these plans into action across Punjab. Many of the projects are part of the yearly budget for the financial year 2025-26, which started recently. For road projects, for example, money will be spent on rebuilding and improving about 12,000 kilometers of roads, building on work done in the previous year. The Chief Minister’s Sadaken Bahal Punjab Khushhal Programme is starting with Rs 50 billion in the next budget for road fixes all over the state. In education, the government plans to start 3,132 new programs in the next financial year. This includes turning 100 government senior high schools into ‘Schools of Brilliance’ and 100 primary government schools into ‘Schools of Happiness.’ The plan for ‘Schools of Eminence’ is also moving forward, with 14 such schools already working. For farming, a major step is the distribution of 9,500 tractors right away under the Green Tractor Program, with the process of picking farmers to start soon. The goal is to give 30,000 tractors in total. Efforts to get more water for farms are also being helped by new funding from outside the country, with $8. 32 million from the Asian Development Bank to prepare and improve irrigation systems. This will help fix old water channels and make sure water gets to farms more reliably. The government also plans to set up new solar-powered tube wells for farmers. For housing, the ‘Apni Chhat Apna Ghar’ scheme will give loans to build half a million houses over five years. The government is making it easier to get these loans, turning the loan scheme into a fund that keeps getting money back. These steps show the government’s aim to bring these large-scale plans to life in the coming months and years. 
