Failing the public

WHETHER it is Sindh’s struggle to secure clean drinking water or Balochistan’s difficulty in improving the governance of its finances, the respective budgets of the two provinces reveal a deeper problem: they place greater emphasis on accounting than improving daily life for their citizens. While the books must be kept in order, budget decisions should also ensure better public services, stronger infrastructure and improved living standards. As recurrent spending continues to rise and development allocations come under pressure due to the centre’s demands on provincial resources, the challenge for both provinces is to build the institutional capacity and accountability needed for sustainable growth and effective public service delivery.

The contrast between headline fiscal indicators and the reality is striking. Sindh continues to grapple with urban governance failures, while Balochistan remains heavily reliant on federal transfers and is vulnerable to revenue shortfalls. The Sindh budget projects optimism. It stays clear of new taxes and maintains social spending while promising to protect development priorities, despite the slashing of its development programme and contributing Rs260bn towards federal expenditures. But beyond the rhetoric is an uncomfortable reality: the quality of life in urban areas, particularly Pakistan’s commercial hub, is far removed from the one expected in a modern megacity. The Rs100bn Karachi package can make a visible difference in the lives of millions, but only if the allocated funds are actually spent during the year and not lost to corruption, inefficiency or implementation delays. Balochistan’s budget plan marks its sixth consecutive surplus; it avoids new taxes and prioritises health, education, infrastructure and digital connectivity. However, the surplus rests on fragile assumptions. More than three-quarters of the projected revenue, Rs834bn, depends on federal transfers, exposing the province to delays. The government also targets Rs170bn in own-source revenue, despite having collected only Rs82.5bn this year. Meanwhile, current expenditure is rising and development spending declining, threatening growth and improvements in public services. Years of weak budget implementation and unrealistic revenue projections have widened the gap between promise and performance in the two provinces. Without reforms to boost governance, expand revenue collection and prioritise efficient spending, both risk undermining long-term development goals. Sustained accountability and effective implementation are essential to ensuring inclusive growth, stronger public services and better living standards.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2026

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