The Sindh government has decided to spend more money on healthcare, increasing the health budget by 8% — from Rs302 billion to Rs326 billion.
According to Samaa TV, they are also planning to raise government employees’ salaries by 10% to 20% in the new budget for the year 2025–26.
In addition, new government jobs are expected to be announced in various departments.
The overall Sindh budget for the next year is Rs3.4 trillion, which was approved in a meeting led by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
However, a health group named Panah criticized the budget, saying the government is giving more importance to business profits than to people’s health.
On Wednesday, Sanaullah Ghumman, the Secretary General of the Pakistan National Heart Association (Panah), criticized the federal budget.
Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Ghumman said, “Failure to tax unhealthy food products is both regrettable and reflects poor policymaking. While fuel has been taxed in the federal budget, there has been no increase in tax on junk food.”
“A minimum 20% Federal Excise Duty should be imposed on ultra-processed foods. Every minute, one Pakistani suffers a heart attack. Over 1,100 people die daily due to diabetes. Pakistan now ranks first globally in diabetes prevalence,” he added.
