Pakistan, June 14 -- Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah presented the provincial budget estimates for the fiscal year 2025-26 in the assembly amounting to Rs3,451.87 billion, with a deficit of Rs38.458 billion-representing a 12.9 per cent increase compared to the previous year's budget estimates of Rs3,056.3 billion for FY 2024-25.

The CM announced a salary increase of 12 per cent for employees in grades BS-1 to BS-16 and a 10 per cent raise for those in grades BS-17 to BS-22, along with an 8 per cent increase in pensions. "We are introducing a finance bill to abolish and decrease some taxes/levies/cess instead of increasing them," the Chief Minister stated.

The budget emphasises increased allocations for education, health, infras...