Provinces protected, no new sacrifices: Bilawal

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said provincial governments will not be asked to make any additional financial sacrifices after agreeing

PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has said provincial governments will not be asked to make any additional financial sacrifices after agreeing to a temporary freeze on development allocations. He said the federal government has assured all provinces that their share under the Seventh National Finance Commission (NFC) Award will remain fully protected.

Speaking during the National Assembly’s budget debate, Bilawal said the federation and provinces had jointly decided to contribute resources to meet Pakistan’s growing defence and national security requirements. He described the arrangement as a constitutional and democratic solution reached through consultation among all stakeholders.

According to Bilawal, the decision was made under Article 164 of the Constitution, which allows provinces and the federal government to provide grants to one another in matters of national importance. He stressed that the move was not imposed on provinces and was agreed upon through consensus.

The PPP chief praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb for holding extensive discussions with coalition partners and addressing provincial concerns. He said the agreement reflected political maturity and demonstrated that national interests could unite different political parties despite their differences.

Bilawal also welcomed the cooperation shown by opposition parties, particularly the PTI-led government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying national challenges require collective action rather than political confrontation.

At the same time, he warned that temporary fiscal arrangements could not serve as a long-term answer to Pakistan’s economic problems. He called on federal and provincial governments to develop sustainable, growth-oriented economic policies capable of strengthening the country’s finances and improving living standards.

The PPP chairman rejected speculation regarding possible changes to the NFC Award and the 18th Constitutional Amendment. He said rumours about reducing provincial rights had created unnecessary uncertainty before the budget debate.

Bilawal argued that provinces still do not receive their complete share of national resources. He pointed to the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL), saying the levy continues to be collected by the federal government while provinces do not receive a share under the NFC formula. According to him, this deprives provinces of resources that could otherwise be spent on public welfare and development projects.

He also highlighted the financial sacrifices made by provincial governments to help Pakistan avoid economic default and meet conditions linked to international financial commitments. Provincial administrations, he said, are often required to maintain large budget surpluses, limiting their ability to invest in infrastructure, education, healthcare and social welfare programmes.

Bilawal noted that Sindh alone was required to maintain a significant surplus that could otherwise have been used for development projects in Karachi, Larkana, Nawabshah and other areas. He added that other provinces face similar challenges.

Referring to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, he said the province continues to face difficulties related to the merged tribal districts. He expressed concern that promised development initiatives for these areas have not progressed as expected and criticised the failure to extend certain tax exemptions for tribal regions in the new budget.

The PPP chairman also spoke about regional developments and security concerns. He said Pakistan supports peace because stability directly benefits economic growth, investment and employment. He praised the country’s leadership for its role in promoting dialogue and reducing tensions in the region.

Bilawal concluded by stressing that Pakistan faces multiple external and internal challenges, including security concerns and economic pressures. He said political unity, democratic cooperation and consensus-based decision-making remain essential for safeguarding national interests and ensuring long-term economic progress.