Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Budget 2025-26 Passed Amid Opposition Boycott

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government swiftly passed the Rs2.12 trillion budget for the upcoming fiscal year through the provincial assembly on Monday night. This move occurred amidst an opposition boycott of the session protesting the speaker’s dismissal of their cut motions regarding demands for grants for various departments.

The PTI government had previously stated that the budget would only be approved after the ruling party's founder, Imran Khan, gave approval. The Opposition criticized the rushed passage of the budget, emphasizing that it was unprecedented.

During the budget session overseen by Speaker Babar Saleem Swati, opposition members criticized the government for ignoring their cut motions related to demands for grants. They highlighted the Rs240 billion supplementary budget for the outgoing fiscal year as a consequence of poor planning and lack of interest by the provincial government in managing the province’s affairs effectively.

Opposition leaders expressed dismay over the speaker's dismissal of their cut motions and questioned the urgency of passing the budget at night. They accused the ruling PTI of avoiding further directives by hastening the budget approval process.

Law Minister Aftab Alam Khan defended the speaker's actions, stating that the opposition had already raised objections during the general debate. He clarified that a significant portion of the supplementary budget was allocated for current expenditure and development, with a notable amount directed towards debt management.

The session was adjourned until the following day due to a lack of quorum.

According to the source: Dawn.