Islamabad: The federal government is facing questions over its fiscal management after budget documents revealed that Govt Seeks parliamentary approval for a record Rs. 3.684 trillion in supplementary grants and expenditure overruns.
The amount is significantly higher than the Rs. 895 billion approved by parliament last year. The sharp increase has raised concerns about budget planning, spending controls, and the government’s commitment to austerity measures.
According to documents presented before parliament, the Finance Ministry is requesting approval for expenditures that exceeded the originally approved budget during fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. Although the funds have already been spent, constitutional rules require parliament to formally approve these expenditures.
The largest portion of the additional spending was related to debt servicing. During fiscal year 2024-25, debt servicing accounted for Rs. 2.6 trillion in supplementary grants. Other major expenditures included Rs. 430 billion for the power sector, Rs. 38 billion in grants and subsidies, Rs. 23 billion for defence services, and Rs. 22 billion for civil works projects.
For fiscal year 2025-26, Govt Seeks approval for another Rs. 485 billion in supplementary grants. Key allocations include Rs. 127.5 billion for grants and subsidies, Rs. 112 billion for the power sector, and Rs. 57 billion for education. Additional spending includes Rs. 34 billion for defence services, Rs. 30 billion for health programs, and Rs. 22.4 billion for poverty alleviation and social protection initiatives.
The documents also reveal that Rs. 127.4 billion was utilized for the Prime Minister’s Austerity Fund during the current fiscal year. Other allocations included Rs. 11 billion for Pakistan Television, Rs. 2.8 billion for an English-language news channel, Rs. 2 billion for the Pakistan Digital Authority, and Rs. 800 million for the Pakistan Virtual Assets Authority.
Several other expenditures were also highlighted. These included Rs. 22 billion for the Prime Minister’s Ramazan Package, Rs. 15 billion for law and order requirements, Rs. 7 billion for development projects proposed by members of the National Assembly, and Rs. 4 billion for land acquisition compensation linked to the Defence Complex in Islamabad.
The Finance Ministry stated that these expenditures could not be covered through existing budget allocations. It argued that delaying the spending was not possible due to operational needs and public service requirements.
However, the scale of the spending has sparked debate among analysts and lawmakers. As Govt Seeks approval for these large expenditures, questions continue to emerge about financial discipline and spending oversight. The issue is expected to remain a key topic as parliament reviews the budget and fiscal policies for the coming year.
