LAHORE – The Punjab government has proposed an allocation of Rs500.62 billion for the health sector in the fiscal year 2026-27, accounting for more than 10 percent of the total provincial budget.
The official documents showed that the proposed budget includes Rs424.32 billion under non-development expenditures and Rs76.30 billion for development spending.
Officials said the allocation reflects continued efforts to strengthen the province’s healthcare system through the expansion of hospitals, specialised treatment facilities, and improved primary healthcare services.
Major ongoing projects include the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs75 billion, for which Rs20 billion has been proposed in the upcoming fiscal year.
In the current financial year, significant investments have been made in healthcare infrastructure, including Rs28.94 billion for projects such as the Jinnah and Nawaz Sharif Institutes of Cardiology in Lahore and Sargodha, along with modern medical equipment installations.
The Punjab Institute of Mental Health Lahore has undergone rehabilitation and upgradation work worth Rs2.45 billion, while Nishtar Hospital Multan’s emergency and outpatient departments have been upgraded at a cost of Rs5 billion.
Under the Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic initiative, launched at a cost of Rs21 billion in FY 2025-26, a total of 2,508 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and 115 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) have been outsourced to improve service delivery. The programme also includes recruitment of thousands of Lady Health Workers and Health Inspectors, with overall expenditure exceeding Rs12.58 billion.
The Clinic-on-Wheels programme has provided healthcare services to over 30.7 million patients at a cost of Rs3.50 billion, while Rs3.85 billion has been proposed for the next fiscal year. Two air ambulances operating in the province have so far facilitated treatment for 270 patients.
Officials further said Rs8.66 billion has been spent under the CM Initiative for Dialysis Programme and Rs3.64 billion under the Transplant Programme, benefiting more than 1.4 million patients. The Children Heart Surgery Programme has treated over 13,000 children at a cost of Rs3.21 billion.
In FY 2025-26, Rs1.05 billion was allocated to ensure uninterrupted supply of insulin and essential medicines for diabetes patients, including children.
Additionally, Rs9.60 billion has been spent on the rehabilitation and upgradation of 434 Basic Health Units across northern and central Punjab to improve access to primary healthcare services.
For the next fiscal year, the government plans to establish the Nawaz Sharif Medical District at a cost of Rs169 billion, which will include a children’s hospital, orthopaedic and surgical units, and specialised centres for burns and plastic surgery.
Other proposed allocations include Rs9.30 billion for the establishment of 15 cardiac surgery units, Rs8.31 billion for MRI machines in 29 teaching hospitals, and funding for advanced diagnostic facilities including Cath Labs, CT scans, and Neuro Cath Labs.
A new Stroke Initiative under Neuro Cath Labs is also being introduced for the first time in Punjab, with an allocation of Rs1.75 billion. Around Rs5 billion has been proposed to expand emergency services across the province.
Furthermore, Rs15.21 billion has been proposed for a Cancer Hospital in Dera Ghazi Khan, while Rs23.37 billion has been allocated for the construction of a Children’s Hospital in Bahawalpur to strengthen healthcare delivery in southern Punjab.
Punjab proposes Rs750 billion education budget for FY 2026-27
