The federal government is considering allocating Rs22 billion for the health sector and Rs187.2 billion for the achievement of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the upcoming federal budget, according to budget proposals and official documents reviewed by sources.
The documents reveal that out of the proposed Rs22 billion health allocation, Rs1.30 billion is expected to be financed through foreign assistance, while Rs20.70 billion will be generated from domestic resources.
In addition, Rs24.3 billion has been proposed for health and nutrition-related initiatives under the development budget.
The health sector will receive 2.2 percent of the total Rs187.2 billion earmarked for the social sector under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The government has also proposed allocating Rs1.5 billion for the prevention and research of cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, Rs1 billion has been recommended for the expansion of the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology.
The Higher Education Commission (HEC) is expected to receive Rs78.5 billion, while Rs3 billion has been earmarked for educational scholarships for deserving students. An allocation of Rs3.29 billion has been proposed for the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme.
The budget proposals further include Rs1.5 billion in scholarships for students from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). In addition, the government is considering allocating substantial funds to expand the Danish Schools Network into underserved and backward regions across the country.
In this regard, the proposed locations for new Danish Schools include the districts of Musa Khel, Zhob, Qila Saifullah, and Dera Bugti in Balochistan; Bagh, Bhimber, Sharda, and Haveli Kahuta in Azad Jammu and Kashmir; Sultanabad, Shigar, Astore, and Skardu in Gilgit-Baltistan; Tando Muhammad Khan in Sindh; and Chitral district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The proposals also include a special grant of Rs66.1 billion for the merged districts, while Rs79.4 billion has been recommended for development projects in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The proposed allocations indicate the government’s focus on strengthening health and education services, promoting regional development, and advancing socio-economic priorities through targeted public investment in the upcoming fiscal year.
