Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has presented the largest budget in its history for the fiscal year 2025-26, with a total volume of Rs 310.20 billion. The budget was formally tabled in the AJK Legislative Assembly on Wednesday during a session chaired by Speaker Chaudhry Latif Akbar.
AJK Finance Minister Abdul Majid Khan introduced both the revised budget for 2024-25 and the proposed estimates for 2025-26. He stated that the combined development and non-development expenditures for the upcoming fiscal year are projected at Rs 310.20 billion. In comparison, the revised estimate for the current fiscal year stood at Rs 224 billion.
Thanks to efforts by the current administration and support from the federal government, an increase of Rs 86.20 billion has been made possible in the next year’s budget. The government, now more than two years into its term, has not only secured considerable financial resources but has also achieved financial discipline.
For the fiscal year 2025-26, Rs 49 billion have been allocated to development projects, with a focus on accelerating growth in both economic and social sectors.
Revenue Projections:
Total revenue for FY 2025-26 is estimated at Rs 261.20 billion, which matches the estimated expenditures. Key sources include:
Inland Revenue: Rs 85 billion
Land Record & Settlement: Rs 180 million
Stamps: Rs 500 million
AJK Transport Authority: Rs 70 million
Armed Services Board: Rs 40 million
Law & Order: Rs 320 million
Police (Interior): Rs 250.6 million
Prisons: Rs 2.5 million
Communication & Works: Rs 625 million
Education: Rs 290 million
Health: Rs 250.2 million
Food: Rs 550 million
Agriculture: Rs 120 million
Wildlife & Fisheries: Rs 90 million
Livestock & Dairy: Rs 500 million
Forests: Rs 5 billion
Power: Rs 19.58 billion
Printing Press: Rs 1.2 billion
Industries: Rs 555 million
Labour: Rs 6.5 million
Sericulture: Rs 6.5 million
Minerals: Rs 1.3 billion
Tourism: Rs 150 million
Social Welfare: Rs 200,000
Religious Affairs: Rs 900 million
Miscellaneous: Rs 12.64 billion
Federal Variable Grant: Rs 104.90 billion
Water Use Charges: Rs 1 billion
Loans and Advances: Rs 1.2 billion
Expenditure Breakdown:
The total estimated expenditures for FY 2025-26 also amount to Rs 261.20 billion. Key allocations include:
Services & General Administration: Rs 9.26 billion
Board of Revenue: Rs 1.98 billion
Stamps: Rs 482 million
Relief & Rehabilitation: Rs 2.01 billion
Pensions: Rs 49 billion
Public Relations: Rs 431.3 million
Judiciary: Rs 3.89 billion
Police & Interior: Rs 11.34 billion
Prisons: Rs 472.3 million
Civil Defence: Rs 518.3 million
Armed Services Board: Rs 132.5 million
Communication & Works: Rs 6.70 billion
Education: Rs 52.78 billion
Health: Rs 26.27 billion
Sports, Youth & Culture: Rs 1.30 billion
Livestock & Dairy: Rs 1.18 billion
Food: Rs 473.7 million
State Trading: Rs 37.99 billion
Forests, Wildlife & Fisheries: Rs 2.25 billion
Cooperatives: Rs 22.4 million
Energy & Water Resources: Rs 12.92 billion
Local Government & Rural Development: Rs 1.11 billion
Industries, Labour & Minerals: Rs 366.9 million
Printing Press: Rs 1.76 billion
Sericulture: Rs 1.63 billion
Tourism & Archaeology: Rs 2.28 billion
Miscellaneous: Rs 31.38 billion
Capital Expenditures: Rs 5 billion
Development Budget Highlights:
The development budget of Rs 49 billion has been allocated across various sectors:
Agriculture & Livestock: Rs 900 million
Civil Defence/SDMA: Rs 150 million
Development Authorities: Rs 3.45 billion
Education: Rs 5 billion
Environment: Rs 150 million
Forests & Watershed: Rs 800 million
Wildlife & Fisheries: Rs 750 million
Health: Rs 6 billion
Industries & Minerals: Rs 920 million
Technical Education & Vocational Training: Rs 280 million
Governance/Miscellaneous: Rs 2.035 billion
Transport: Rs 30 million
Information & Media Development: Rs 200 million
IT: Rs 800 million
Local Government & Rural Development: Rs 5 billion
Physical Planning & Housing: Rs 2.465 billion
Energy & Water Resources: Rs 4.8 billion
Research & Development: Rs 1.4 billion
Land Administration & Management: Rs 1.15 billion
Social Welfare & Women Development: Rs 300 million
Sports & Youth: Rs 500 million
Tourism: Rs 700 million
Communication & Works: Rs 15 billion
This comprehensive budget sets a new milestone in AJK’s financial planning, aiming for sustained development and fiscal stability in the region.