The Sindh Assembly has passed the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25), rejecting all proposals made by the opposition lawmakers who disrupted the budget session with protests.
The budget, with a total expenditure of Rs3.56 trillion, contains recommendations for development expenditure totaling Rs959 billion.
The finance bill, which is crucial in outlining the fiscal framework for the coming year, was approved by a majority vote, with all proposals rejected despite strong opposition from angry opposition lawmakers.
In response to this oppression by the ruling party, opposition party members stood up, tore up copies of the finance bill and ran out of the National Assembly building.
In a parliamentary session chaired by Speaker Syed Owais Qadr Shah on Friday, opposition lawmakers proposed a slew of cuts to their various budget demands, all of which were rejected by the finance ministry.
Sindh expects revenue of 3 trillion rupees, of which 62% is expected to come from federal subsidies and 22% from provincial government revenue, according to budget projections.
The state assembly also approved Rs142.5 billion for public sector investments.
Opposition lawmakers have also called for the bill to be approved in stages.
Meanwhile, Sindh Assembly Opposition Leader Ali Kursidi strongly criticised the government for “forcing” the finance bill through the assembly, saying it only focused on taxation issues for the two departments.
“The Sindh Finance Bill was passed without paying any attention to the suggestions made by the opposition,” Ali Kursidi lamented in a press statement.
The opposition leader said the Sindh government had admitted that it had failed to meet its revenue targets.
“Professional taxes are going up in hospitals, which is going to drive up school tuition and physician fees significantly,” he added.
“There is no hope for the Sindh budget,” Kursidi said, adding that the government has been run this way since its inception and will continue to run this way.
On Thursday, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah concluded the discussion on the provincial budget for 2024-25, highlighting the provincial government's priorities, future projects, and the economic, political and social situation of the province.
A total of 131 lawmakers representing both parties in the 168-member assembly participated in the local budget discussion, and the discussion took place in a friendly atmosphere.