KPK Assembly Opposition Parties Reject Provincial Budget 2025-26 as Misleading and Detrimental

Strategic Insights -

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) Assembly opposition parties have strongly rejected the provincial budget for 2025-26, labeling it as misleading, unrealistic, and detrimental to key public sectors such as education, health, and development. During a heated session, opposition leader Dr. Ibadullah criticized the government for presenting false figures and misrepresenting the fiscal situation, highlighting that the budget relies heavily on federal transfers, loans, and foreign aid. He emphasized that the province contributes only 7% of its own resources, while 93% comes from external sources.

Key Takeaways:

  • The opposition leader, Dr. Ibadullah, accused the government of presenting false figures, stating that the allocated amount under the Federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) is actually Rs 538 billion, not Rs 550 million.
  • 93% of the provincial budget relies on federal transfers, loans, and foreign aid, while the province contributes only 7% of its own resources.
  • The opposition leader criticized the government for misusing funds, using over Rs 800 billion borrowed over the past 12 years for political protests, media campaigns, and unfulfilled infrastructure promises.
  • The KP government failed to utilize the full development budget, with 35% of the current year's development funds lapsing, continuing a 12-year trend of underutilized funds.
  • Several corruption scandals were highlighted, including the Kalam Jabba tourism project, solar energy initiatives, wheat procurement, Kohistan scam, and others.
  • The opposition leader accused the government of political favoritism by allocating resources to select constituencies and ignoring underdeveloped regions.
  • The lack of a Provincial Finance Commission (PFC) meeting is seen as a constitutional violation.
  • In the education sector, the government was criticized for dividing free books among children, while schools, colleges, and universities remain untended.
  • The health sector is also plagued by problems, including non-functional Basic Health Units (BHUs), disrupted hospital operations, and lack of proper structure and oversight in the health card initiative.
  • Dr. Ibadullah proposed several reforms, including creating fair rules for equitable development funding, holding PFC meetings, establishing new schools, and investing in youth training, water resources, and tourism.

Statistics:

  • 93% of the KPK provincial budget relies on federal transfers, loans, and foreign aid.
  • The province contributes only 7% of its own resources.
  • Over Rs 800 billion borrowed over the past 12 years.
  • 35% of the current year's development funds lapsed.
  • 60% of children cannot do basic math.
  • 40% of children still cannot read Urdu.

Sources:

  • "Opposition raises serious concerns over KPK budget 2025-26," Dawn, Monday, June 12, 2023.
  • "KPK budget: Opposition parties reject budget, term it detrimental to key sectors," The News, Monday, June 12, 2023.
  • "KPK Assembly opposition parties reject provincial budget 2025-26," The Express Tribune, Monday, June 12, 2023.