2023 census population
13,400,009
- The Government of Punjab currently has an annual non-development/current expenditure budget of approximately Rs. 2,706 billion across more than 40 administrative departments.
- Under the proposed restructuring, departments will be consolidated into 18 departments based on functional similarity, mandate, and service delivery needs.
- DG offices will be abolished; functions shift to the Provincial Secretariat (upgraded Commissioner Office). District-level field staff remain unchanged — only secretariat-level staffing and costs are included here.
- The existing current budget will be reallocated across 10 proposed divisions/provinces in Punjab, using population and area. Bahawalpur Division (proposed Bahawalpur Province) has a 2023 census population of 13,400,009 (~10.49% of Punjab’s 127.69 million) and an area of 45,588 km².
Proposal Overview
Share of Punjab
~10.49%
Area
45,588 km²
Proposed current-expenditure setup for Bahawalpur Province totals Rs. 6.63 billion, with high-level offices and consolidated departmental secretariats. Figures are derived from province-budget.xlsx and proportional to Punjab’s Rs. 2,706 billion current budget.
Proposed Organizational Setup
- Governor Secretariat
- Bahawalpur Assembly
- Chief Minister Secretariat
- Finance & Excise
- Planning & Development
- C&W, Housing & PHED
- Agriculture, Livestock, PC&CM
- Education
- Health
- Home
- Industries, Investment & Commerce
- Information, Culture & Tourism
- Irrigation, Energy, Environment Protection
- Law & Parliamentary Affairs
- LG and Community Development
- Revenue, Colonies
- Transport
- Cooperatives, Labour & Human Resources
- Forestry Wildlife & Fisheries
- Religious Affairs
- SGA, Management & Professional
- Inspector General of Police
- Bahawalpur High Court
Proposed Financial Setup — Bahawalpur Province
Total proposed current expenditure for Bahawalpur Province is Rs. 6.63 billion, comprising provincial secretariat and high-level offices. Breakdown below is from province-budget.xlsx; detailed PC-1s and staffing structures would follow in the next phase.
High-Level Offices
Departmental Expenses
Consolidated secretariat costs for 18 departments total Rs. 4.77 billion (from province-budget.xlsx). District field formations (police, health, education, revenue, etc.) continue with existing staffing.
Department-wise Allocation (Consolidated 18 Departments)
Rationale for Allocation
- Population-based weighting (Bahawalpur ~10.49% of Punjab) adjusted for area, agricultural importance, and administrative needs.
- Comparable divisions used as benchmarks; Bahawalpur Division’s large geographic area and South Punjab development needs support proportionally higher secretariat allocation.
- Focus on efficiency: consolidated departments reduce overhead while maintaining service delivery.
- District field formations unchanged; only secretariat-level costs added.
Key Benefits of Bahawalpur as New Province
- Better local governance and faster decision-making for South Punjab (Bahawalpur, Bahawalnagar, Rahim Yar Khan).
- Improved focus on local issues: roads, irrigation, flood management, agro-processing, and education/health access.
- Enhanced revenue generation potential through better administration of agriculture, industry, and local taxes.
- Alignment with broader provincial restructuring for 10 efficient units.
This setup ensures fiscal prudence while devolving authority. Detailed PC-1s, staffing structures, and asset transfers can be prepared in the next phase. Figures are indicative, based on proportional reallocation of Punjab’s Rs. 2,706 billion current budget. Actuals would be finalized through the Finance Department and Provincial Assembly. This proposal positions Bahawalpur Province as a viable, self-sustaining administrative unit focused on agricultural excellence, flood resilience, and improved public service delivery.