Budgets of 40 Punjab district councils frozen

RAWALPINDI: Funds for all 40 district councils in Punjab, including the Rawalpindi District Council, have been frozen, preventing them from preparing and presenting budgets for the 2026-27 financial year.

The move has also led to the cancellation of 2,782 development schemes across district councils in the province, including 286 schemes of the Rawalpindi District Council. Only projects that are in the final stages of completion will continue, while files for all other schemes have been closed.

The newly formed tehsil councils are expected to take a final decision on these development projects. As part of the measures linked to the budget freeze, all additional staff of district councils are being moved to the surplus pool. Approval has also been granted for the transfer of a large number of employees and officers from the district council to the Pothohar Town Corporation.

The deputy commissioner has directed that all dues of Rawalpindi District Council employees be cleared by June 30. Senior employees have also been given the option of taking early retirement.