Syed Ali Shah Analysis:Â
The Balochistan Budget 2025, worth Rs1,000.208 billion, has laid out an ambitious development roadmap focusing on education, healthcare, infrastructure, clean drinking water, climate change, and law and order. Presented by Finance Minister Mir Shoaib Nosherwani, the budget reflects a forward-thinking development vision. However, its true value will only be realized if there is a robust transparency mechanism in place, especially around the newly formed district coordination committees.
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These coordination committees, empowered to oversee local development execution, are a positive step toward decentralized governance. However, without a strict audit and accountability framework, they risk becoming unchecked centers of influence. To ensure that development projects are completed on time and with quality, the government must implement a real-time monitoring system, regular public disclosures, and third-party performance evaluations.
One of the most promising elements of this budget is the allocation of Rs3 billion to install 1,000 water filtration plants across all union councils. This has the potential to significantly reduce waterborne diseases in underserved communities. Another highlight is the creation of the Balochistan Climate Change Fund with Rs500 million, showing a clear commitment to environmental sustainability.
The government’s restraint in avoiding unnecessary job creation is commendable and will help lower non-development expenditures, freeing up funds for more impactful programs. Additionally, the enhanced allocation to local governments is a welcome move — if managed transparently.
But budget figures alone do not ensure change. There must be clarity: Will these funds reach the people — or be trapped in bureaucratic bottlenecks or political circles?
To truly benefit the common man, the Balochistan government must make transparency, accountability, and performance tracking the cornerstones of its fiscal strategy. The district coordination committees must operate under clear public reporting mandates and be accountable to both provincial authorities and local communities.
In a province facing complex challenges — from poverty and underdevelopment to law and order issues — only good governance can deliver real transformation. This budget lays the foundation; now it must be built upon with integrity, oversight, and a people-first approach.
