By Imtiaz Hussain
NAWABSHAH: The Finance and Planning Committee of Shaheed Benazir Bhutto University (SBBU), Shaheed Benazirabad, has approved the university’s budget for the 2026-27 financial year after reporting savings of Rs191.388 million during the previous fiscal year through tighter financial management.
The decision was taken at the committee’s 20th meeting, chaired by Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Madad Ali Shah. The meeting was attended by deans of various faculties, representatives of the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan, the Sindh Higher Education Commission and senior university officials.
Director Finance Ashfaq Hussain Sheikh presented the proposed budget for 2026-27, the revised financial performance for 2025-26, employee relief measures, pension reforms and the university’s investment portfolio.
The committee was told that against an approved Main Campus budget of Rs1.170 billion for 2025-26, actual expenditure stood at Rs978.612 million, resulting in savings of Rs191.388 million, or more than 16% of the allocated budget.
According to the financial report, the savings were achieved through tighter spending controls, the removal of non-essential expenditure and the temporary postponement of lower-priority projects, while maintaining academic, research and administrative services across all three campuses.
The university also exceeded its revenue target. The Main Campus generated Rs1.205 billion against a projected Rs1.176 billion, surpassing the estimate by Rs28.381 million. Its investment portfolio earned Rs182.658 million during the financial year, providing additional funding for academic programmes, student scholarships, institutional operations and future development.
The committee approved the proposed budget for 2026-27 and recommended it to the university’s Syndicate for final approval.
Under the new financial plan, the Main Campus has been allocated Rs1.305 billion against projected revenue of Rs1.385 billion. The Naushahro Feroze Campus has been allocated Rs161.85 million with expected revenue of Rs159.87 million, while the Sanghar Campus has been allocated Rs145.40 million against projected revenue of Rs132.30 million.
The committee noted that the Main Campus budget represents an increase of 11.5% over the revised budget for the previous financial year. The additional allocation will support new faculty and staff appointments, salary and allowance increases announced by the Sindh government and investment in development projects.
The committee also approved a 7% ad hoc relief allowance for employees in Basic Pay Scale 1 to 22 from July 1, 2026, along with a 7% increase in the net pension of retired employees.
Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Madad Ali Shah said the university’s growth in internally generated revenue, disciplined financial management and commitment to transparency reflected its determination to strengthen long-term financial sustainability while continuing to invest in quality education, research and student development. He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to expanding access to higher education across Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Naushahro Feroze and Dadu districts.
