NA approves trillions in demands for grants under budget 2026-27

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Sunday approved demands for grants for various ministries and divisions under the federal budget 2026-27, as the government secured passage of allocations worth trillions of rupees through majority vote.

The session, chaired by NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, saw approval of 89 demands for grants for 29 ministries and divisions, amounting to over Rs40.48 trillion.

Lawmakers approved the expenditures through majority vote as the House moved through the budgetary schedule ministry by ministry.

Among key allocations, the Defence Division secured over Rs30.67 trillion through five demands for grants, making it the largest approved allocation of the session.

The Communications Division received over Rs1.25 trillion under five demands, while the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training was allocated over Rs1.21 trillion through nine demands.

The Water Resources Division secured over Rs1.07 trillion in three demands, while Pakistan Railways was allocated more than Rs1.11 trillion through two demands.

Other major approvals included the Power and Maritime Affairs divisions, which together received Rs4.12 trillion in allocations.

The Planning Division was allocated Rs37.21 billion, while the Interior Division and its attached departments secured Rs45.04 billion.

The Foreign Affairs Division received Rs68.17 billion, followed by Rs27.99 billion for the Commerce Division and Rs42.07 billion for the Information Technology Division. The Law and Justice Division was allocated Rs24.91 billion, while the National Health Services Division received Rs53.28 billion.

The Cabinet Division and its attached departments were allocated Rs58.34 billion, while Rs2.11 billion was approved for the Defence Production Division. The Privatisation Division received Rs1.74 billion.

The House also approved allocations for the Senate Secretariat, National Assembly, Parliamentary Affairs Division, Economic Affairs Division, Housing and Works Division, Human Rights Division, Science and Technology Division, Religious Affairs, and Inter-Provincial Coordination Division, among others.

Earlier, the Information and Broadcasting Division was allocated over Rs27.57 billion under three demands, while the Interior Ministry and its attached departments also secured approval for its expenditures.

The Finance Division and its attached departments were also included in the approved list, alongside allocations for climate change, maritime affairs, and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan affairs divisions.

Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the budgetary process was continuing in accordance with parliamentary procedure, with approvals being granted step by step as debate on the federal budget 2026-27 progressed.

The approval of demands for grants is part of the ongoing budget passage process in the lower house, which will culminate in the finalisation of the federal budget for the next fiscal year.