Pakistan’s economic challenges demand difficult decisions that balance immediate fiscal needs against long-term development goals. The proposed 2025–26 federal budget prioritizes short-term stability, but this comes at the expense of critical health-sector investments. While fiscal prudence is necessary, neglecting healthcare risks creating larger economic and social costs down the line—truly a “penny wise, pound foolish” approach.

The upcoming health budget has been set at PKR 46.10 billion—a 16% reduction from last year’s PKR 54.87 billion allocation—resulting in an PKR 8.77 billion cut. No new health schemes appear in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for FY2025–26. Amid rising costs and inflation, this cut threatens patient access, infrastructure maintenance, and workforce capacity.

Prioritizing fiscal discipline is understandable: Pakistan faces mounting debt, persistent current-account deficits, and high inflation, all under IMF and other lender conditions demanding strict monetary control. Yet........

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