The Sindh Assembly passed the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 (FY25) on Thursday amidst strong opposition, which vehemently rejected it, leading to a tumultuous budget session.
The budget, amounting to a substantial Rs3.056 trillion, includes proposals for developmental expenditures totaling Rs959 billion.
Despite intense disapproval from the opposition, the finance bill crucial for framing the financial framework of the upcoming year was moved and approved by a majority vote. This decision prompted opposition lawmakers to express their dissatisfaction by tearing up copies of the Finance Bill and exiting the assembly hall.
Under the leadership of Speaker Syed Owais Qadir Shah, the assembly session saw opposition members presenting numerous cut motions against various budgetary demands, all of which were dismissed by the treasury benches.
According to budget projections, Sindh expects revenues of Rs3 trillion, with 62% anticipated from federal transfers and 22% from provincial receipts. Additionally, the provincial assembly has sanctioned Rs142.5 billion for investments in the public sector.
Opposition legislators had also been advocating for the bill to be approved in phases.
