Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has introduced a Rs2.122 trillion ($7.63 billion) budget for the fiscal year 2027-28 before the provincial assembly in Peshawar. The budget emphasizes a tax-free financial framework with strong commitments to social welfare, healthcare, and infrastructure enhancement.
As Afridi began his presentation, opposition members protested by chanting slogans and displaying placards near the speaker’s podium, signaling dissent against the proposed plan.
The budget heavily depends on federal transfers, with the central government expected to allocate Rs1.584 trillion to the province. In a significant development, Afridi described the budget as “pro-people,” announcing a 7 percent increase in salaries and pensions for government employees. Additionally, he proposed raising the minimum wage to Rs45,000.
Allocations for key sectors highlight the government’s priorities: Rs468 billion has been designated for education and Rs334 billion for healthcare, marking the largest shares of the budget. Law and order will receive Rs191 billion, with Rs29 billion earmarked for the operational expenses of the KP Home Department.
Further allocations include Rs90 billion for local governments, Rs42 billion for energy and power generation, Rs29 billion for agriculture, Rs28 billion for religious affairs and Zakat, and Rs14 billion for transport infrastructure projects.
Afridi emphasized that universal health coverage and targeted poverty reduction remain central to the province’s development agenda. The flagship “Sehat Card” health insurance program has been allocated Rs50 billion, while Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) hospitals are set to receive Rs80 billion to improve healthcare services across the province.
