Pakistan’s two key provinces—Sindh and Punjab—have unveiled their budgets for the fiscal year 2025–26. A comparison between the two presents a clear contrast: on one side, the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)-led Sindh government has walked the talk with a genuinely “people-friendly” budget; on the other, the Punjab government has presented what many are calling a “people-hurting” budget, falling short of public expectations and disappointing even its own employees.

Sindh: A People’s Government Delivering for the People

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, the Sindh government presented a Rs. 3,451 billion budget, widely regarded as a "people-friendly" effort. Key highlights include:

• Salary increases of 12% for government employees from Grade 1 to 16 and 10% for officers from Grade 17 to 22, which surpasses the federal government's 10% increment and reflects pragmatic generosity.

• An 8% increase in pensions for retired government employees, compared to the federal government’s 7% rise.

• Measures such as special allowances for differently-abled employees, abolition of five types of taxes, and reduction in motor vehicle tax aim to reduce the economic burden on ordinary citizens.

Substantial budget allocations have been made in crucial sectors like education, health, agriculture, transport, and urban infrastructure. Notably, Rs. 523.7 billion has been earmarked for education and Rs. 326.5 billion for health, reflecting the government’s deep commitment to social development. Initiatives like the Benazir Hari Card, digital governance projects, and safe water and sanitation schemes highlight a grounded, welfare-oriented approach.

Punjab: Disappointment, Cuts, and Public Backlash

In stark contrast, Punjab’s budget—formulated under the influence of federal policies—has been marked by passivity and regression on multiple fronts:

• Only a 10% salary increase was granted, already viewed critically at the federal level.

• Pension increase stands at a mere 5%, significantly lower than both the federal (7%) and Sindh (8%) adjustments.

The Punjab government has effectively shifted the burden of its fiscal constraints onto public servants and retirees. There is little to no indication of any bold or progressive steps to uplift critical sectors such as education, health, or social welfare. Direct relief measures for the poor and middle class are conspicuously absent.

Public Service or IMF Compliance?

It is important to note that both provinces are grappling with federal funding challenges and IMF-imposed constraints. However, Sindh has managed to prioritize public relief despite these hurdles. Punjab, on the other hand, appears to have used these constraints as an excuse to deliver a budget that only deepens the hardships of its people. As a result, the Sindh government is winning hearts, while the Punjab administration faces increasing public resentment.

Conclusion: Who Truly Stands With the People?

This comparison makes it abundantly clear: the PPP-led Sindh government has demonstrated what it means to be a people’s party—through real salary and pension increases, investments in the social sector, and tax relief. Meanwhile, the Punjab government’s budget reflects austerity without empathy, cuts without conscience, and policies that risk alienating both its workforce and electorate.

Sindh’s budget stands not only as a support system for its own people but as a model worth emulating for other provinces across Pakistan.