Punjab police budget likely cut below demand for FY-2026-27

LAHORE – The Punjab Police is expected to receive Rs239 billion in the upcoming Fiscal-Year-2026-27, falling short of its requested allocation of Rs330 billion, the sources familiar with the facts said on Tuesday. The police had sought Rs330 billion from the Punjab government for the next financial year. However, the sources said the final allocation is likely to be around Rs239 billion, leaving a gap of nearly Rs90 billion. Officials said around 80 percent of the proposed budget will be utilised for salaries and recurring operational expenses, while the remaining funds will be allocated for administrative and limited development activities. Sources added that Rs9 billion has been proposed for the newly established digital wing of the Punjab Police, while Rs6 billion has been earmarked for ongoing development schemes. However, no funds have been allocated for new development projects. They said several proposed initiatives, including the construction of new police stations, establishment of training centres, and other expansion plans, are likely to be postponed due to budget constraints. The department had also requested additional funds for fuel and operational costs. Officials noted that rising fuel prices previously strained the current year’s budget, forcing the Punjab government to release Rs45 billion in supplementary grants. For the current fiscal year, the provincial government had initially allocated Rs230 billion for the Punjab Police. Punjab set to unveil Budget 2026-27 today with total outlay of Rs5,131 billion