Chandigarh, March 26: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Wednesday presented a Rs 2.36 lakh crore Budget for 2025-26, prioritizing the fight against drugs with a significant Rs 5,598 crore allocation for the health sector.
The Budget, the fourth under the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government, imposed no fresh taxes but remained silent on the promised Rs 1,000 monthly allowance for women—a key pre-poll pledge.
Cheema said the state will launch its first-ever “drug census” to assess drug prevalence, usage of de-addiction centres, and the socio-economic status of households. “This data will help craft a scientific and effective strategy to eradicate the drug menace,” he said.
He also mentioned the state’s fiscal targets, projecting the revenue deficit and fiscal deficit to be 2.51% and 3.84%, respectively, by the end of the financial year.
