The Punjab government is set to present a Rs5,131 billion provincial budget for the financial year 2026-27 in the Punjab Assembly today (Tuesday) amid high public expectations.

Provincial Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shuja-ur-Rehman will deliver the budget speech on the assembly floor. The assembly session is scheduled to begin at 2pm.

According to officials, the proposed budget includes around Rs650 billion allocation for salaries and Rs505.8 billion for pensions.

A supplementary budget statement will be presented after the main speech.

Public expectations remain high, particularly in Lahore, where citizens expressed disappointment over the federal budget and are now looking up to the provincial government for economic relief.

A majority of the people called for measures to reduce inflation and a hike in salaries in the upcoming budget.

Government employees, who had been staging a sit-in at Charing Cross, have also urged Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to order salary increases in line with federal decisions.

Meanwhile, political tensions have surfaced as coalition partner Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) raised objections to the budget.

A key PPP parliamentary meeting has been called in the Punjab Assembly today to discuss the party’s response and future strategy.

PPP parliamentary leader Ali Gilani criticised the reports about proposed budgetary allocations.

He said as per media reports, Lahore would receive the largest share of development funds while other districts would be ignored.

He also raised concerns over the lack of progress on creating a separate South Punjab province, insufficient compensation for farmers’ losses, and weak policy planning.

Gilani further criticised the “Suthra Punjab” programme, arguing it is largely limited to urban areas while rural regions continue to face sanitation issues.

He also warned that the lack of landfill sites is contributing to rising environmental pollution.

On the other hand, Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb briefed PPP leadership on the budget, including revenue, expenditure, and sector-wise allocations.

The PPP is expected to take a final decision on its stance after its meeting later today.