Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) government has approved an Rs3.102 trillion budget for the fiscal year 2025–26 without any debate, prompting strong backlash from opposition parties.
The session was boycotted by the opposition, while key members of the ruling coalition — including PML-N President Shah Ghulam Qadir and former Prime Minister Raja Muhammad Farooq Haider — staged a walkout in protest, rejecting the procedure of the budget's approval.
Presenting the budget, AJK Finance Minister Abdul Majeed submitted revised estimates for 2024–25 and a total outlay of Rs3.1 trillion for 2025–26. The budget was passed based on numerical majority.
The budget allocates Rs261 billion for non-development expenditures and Rs49 billion for development projects. Key allocations include Rs2 billion for free healthcare services and the issuance of health cards, and Rs47.99 billion in subsidies for the provision of affordable wheat flour. Additionally, Rs12 billion has been earmarked for electricity subsidies.
The government also announced the creation of 1,329 posts in the AJK Rangers and set aside Rs1 billion for interest-free loans for youth. The largest share of the development budget, Rs15 billion, has been allocated to improve transport and communication infrastructure.
