Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University approves Rs1.3bn budget for FY27

NAWABSHAH: The Finance and Planning Committee of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Nawabshah, has approved a Rs1.305 billion budget for the 2026-27 fiscal year and recommended that it be placed before the university’s syndicate for final approval.

According to an official statement, the decision was taken at the committee’s 20th meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Madad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by deans from different faculties, representatives of the Higher Education Commission Pakistan and Sindh Higher Education Commission, along with senior university administrators.

Under the approved financial plan, the main campus has been allocated Rs1.305bn against projected revenue of Rs1.385bn. The Naushahro Feroze campus has been given Rs161.85 million, with projected revenue of Rs159.87m, while the Sanghar campus has been allocated Rs145.40m against expected revenue of Rs132.30m.

Financial performance reviewed

The statement said Finance Director Ashfaq Hussain Sheikh presented the proposed budget for FY2026-27, the revised financial performance for FY2025-26, employee relief measures, pension reforms and the university’s investment portfolio.

The committee was told that the university maintained strict financial discipline during FY2025-26. Against an approved main campus budget of Rs1.170bn, actual expenditure stood at Rs978.612m, resulting in savings of Rs191.388m. The statement said this amounted to more than 16 per cent of the approved budget.

According to the financial report, the savings were achieved through tighter expenditure controls, removal of non-essential spending and the temporary postponement of lower-priority projects, while academic, research and administrative services at all three campuses remained unaffected.

Revenue exceeded projections

The university also recorded revenue above its estimates during FY2025-26. The main campus generated Rs1.205bn, compared with a projected Rs1.176bn, exceeding the target by nearly Rs28.381m.

In addition, the university’s investment portfolio generated Rs182.658m during the fiscal year, the statement said. It added that these funds provided further support for academic programmes, student scholarships, institutional operations and future development initiatives.

The committee highlighted what it described as strong financial governance, higher institutional revenue and prudent expenditure management, saying these measures had contributed to the savings recorded in the previous fiscal year.