AJK presents over Rs310 billion budget for FY 2025-26

MUZAFFARABAD: Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan on Wednesday presented a record Rs310.20 billion budget for the financial year 2025-26.

Speaking at the budget session chaired by AJK Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar, the AJK finance minister said that this year’s was up by Rs86.20 billion compared to the previous year’s. The budget has proposed a 10 per cent increase in government employees’ salaries and a 5 percent increase in pensions.

He said that the AJK government has ensured the availability of substantial financial resources along with financial discipline in the last two years.

He said that a total revenue of Rs2.6120 trillion has been set for the upcoming financial year against the expenditures of Rs2.6120 trillion, while development expenditures have been estimated at Rs49 billion.

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Detailing the breakdown of total expenditures for fiscal year 2025-26, the finance minister said that Rs9.2665 billion has been allocated for services and general administration, Rs1.9875 billion for board of revenue, Rs11.34 billion for home department, Rs6.7023 billion for communications and public works, Rs52.7867 billion for education, Rs26.2749 billion for public health, Rs2.0128 billion for relief and rehabilitation, and Rs431.3 million for public relations.

Similarly, he said Rs3.8954 billion has been proposed for judiciary, Rs1.3040 billion for agriculture, Rs1.18 billion for livestock and dairy development, Rs37.9942 billion for state trading, Rs2.2567 billion for forests, wildlife and fisheries, Rs12.9270 billion for energy and water resources, and Rs1.1144 billion for local government and rural development.

Miscellaneous expenditures have been estimated at Rs31.386220 billion, capital expenditures Rs5 billion. A total Rs 49 billion have been proposed for development expenditures in the financial year 2025-26.

Following the presentation of the budget document, the session was adjourned indefinitely.