SRINAGAR: Chief Minister Omar Abdullah on Friday chaired a pre-Budget consultation meeting with a wide range of stakeholders at the Civil Secretariat in Srinagar to gather inputs ahead of the Jammu and Kashmir Budget 2026–27.
The meeting, part of the government’s ongoing pre-Budget exercise, was aimed at shaping policy priorities and ensuring effective and inclusive allocation of resources. Ministers Sakina Itoo, Javaid Ahmad Dar and Satish Sharma attended the meeting along with Additional Chief Secretary Dheeraj Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary Tourism Ashish Chander Verma, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D Vaidya, Commissioner Secretary Industries and Commerce Vikramjit Singh and Secretary Social Welfare Sarmad Hafiz, besides other senior officers.
Stakeholders representing diverse sectors, including industry, trade, tourism, transport, education, agriculture, horticulture and entrepreneurship, presented their suggestions and concerns for consideration in the forthcoming Budget. Representatives of business and trade bodies highlighted sector-specific challenges and expectations from the government.
Among the submissions discussed were the issues raised earlier by the Kashmir Traders and Manufacturers Federation, which had flagged a deepening crisis in the trade and retail sector. KTMF, in its pre-Budget representation, had sought interest subvention on working capital loans, improved access to credit, a trader-friendly one-time settlement scheme, and the creation of a dedicated fire safety and relief fund for traders affected by market fires. The federation had also called for improved market infrastructure, parking facilities and a rehabilitation policy for traders displaced by infrastructure projects.
Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said that pre-Budget consultations are an essential part of the annual Budget-making process, enabling the government to understand ground realities and incorporate feedback from across sectors. He said the interactions were aimed at framing a people-friendly Budget that reflects public aspirations and addresses key economic challenges.
Omar Abdullah assured participants that the suggestions received would be carefully examined and, wherever feasible, incorporated into the Budget 2026–27. He said such consultations play a crucial role in promoting inclusive growth and ensuring that policy decisions are responsive to the needs of different sections of society.
