National Assembly: Pakistan approves major federal budget grants across key ministries

Lawmakers clear multi-trillion-rupee allocations for defence, development, energy and governance sectors in budget voting session.

The National Assembly has approved a wide range of federal budget demands for grants, clearing funding allocations for multiple ministries and divisions through a majority vote.

The session was chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the demands for approval.

Lawmakers approved significant allocations across key sectors, including Rs22 billion for atomic energy and Rs2.35 billion for the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority. They also approved funds for housing, communications and regulatory institutions.

The House passed Rs25 billion for the Pakistan Post Office Department and Rs17 billion for defence-related expenditures. It also approved Rs68.17 billion for the Foreign Affairs Division.

Additional allocations included Rs22.31 billion for Housing and Works, and more than Rs2.33 billion for the Human Rights Division.

The National Assembly also approved large-scale funding for development and infrastructure. This included more than Rs125 billion for the Communications Division and over Rs27.99 billion for the Commerce Division.

Defence-related allocations formed a major portion of the approved grants. Lawmakers cleared more than Rs30.67 trillion for defence and its related divisions, along with over Rs2.11 billion for defence production.

Other approvals included Rs121.26 billion for education and professional training, Rs42.07 billion for information technology, and Rs53.28 billion for national health services.

The Interior Division and its attached departments received more than Rs45.04 billion. The Law and Justice Division was allocated over Rs24.91 billion.

Smaller but significant grants were also approved for maritime affairs, inter-provincial coordination, Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs, and planning and development.

The House further approved funding for both chambers of parliament, including over Rs9.03 billion for the National Assembly and Rs3.21 billion for the Senate.

Officials said the approvals will allow the government to proceed with implementation of the federal budget across ministries and divisions for the coming fiscal period.