The National Economic Council (NEC), chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved Pakistan’s Annual Development Plan for the fiscal year 2025–2026. The NEC sanctioned a national development budget of Rs. 4,224 billion, allocating Rs. 1,000 billion for federal projects and Rs. 2,869 billion for provinces. The meeting also set GDP growth targets—2.7% for 2024–2025 and 4.2% for 2025–2026.
In a landmark move, the NEC also approved the 13th Five-Year Plan (2024–2029) and the “Uraan Pakistan Framework,” both aligned for strategic national progress. The council directed ministries and provincial governments to work closely with the Planning Ministry, prioritizing sectors such as health, education, water, infrastructure, and housing.
A third-party monitoring report on the current national development program was reviewed, with the council agreeing to incorporate its recommendations into future project planning.
The meeting was attended by top government officials including Deputy PM Ishaq Dar, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Chief Ministers from all four provinces. Prime Minister Shehbaz congratulated the participants on Pakistan’s military success in “Marka e Haq” and denounced India’s aggressive rhetoric and threats over water resources.
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He emphasized the need for a united strategy to safeguard Pakistan’s water amid India’s provocations, announcing a forthcoming meeting with all Chief Ministers for this purpose. The Prime Minister also acknowledged economic improvements achieved through federal-provincial cooperation, highlighting a positive shift in agriculture, remittances, and the fiscal deficit.
For the ongoing fiscal year 2024–2025, Rs. 3,483 billion is being spent on development, with the federal share at Rs. 1,100 billion. Economic indicators presented during the meeting showed a 30.9% increase in remittances, a surplus current account, a reduction of the fiscal deficit to 2.6% of GDP, and a projected GDP of Rs. 114 trillion or $411 billion.
The NEC also reviewed the progress of the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) and approved key national projects, reinforcing the government’s commitment to sustainable growth.
Prime Minister Shehbaz concluded by thanking all stakeholders for their unanimous support, emphasizing that national consensus is essential for Pakistan’s bright and prosperous future.
