The National Economic Council on Saturday approved
Public Sector Development Programme worth 730 billion rupees for the
next financial year showing 58% increase over the outgoing year, this
was approved during the meeting which was chaired by Prime Minister
Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani.
Briefing newsmen afterwards, Minister for Finance and Economic
Affairs said the size of the Federal Public Sector Development
Programme would be 300 billion rupees as against actual 196 billion
rupees for the current financial year.
The size of the provincial public sector development programmes for
the next financial year would be 430 billion rupees as against 266
billion rupees during this year.
The Minister explained that PSDP worth 290 billion rupees including
ten billion rupees for ERRA was announced for the current financial
year which was later reduced to 196 billion rupees due to floods. PSDP
for provinces stood at 424 billion rupees originally for the current
year but had to be reduced to 266 billion rupees.
About sectorial distribution of the Federal PSDP for the next
financial year, the Minister for Finance said infrastructure, education
and health would be focus of the programme. Infrastructure would get
155 billion rupees, social sector 122 billion rupees and others 23
billion rupees.
Dr. Hafeez Sheikh said it has been decided to give priority to
those projects which are at stages of completion so that their benefit
could accrue to people. Similarly, projects being executed with foreign
assistance would also be focused and completed. Special emphasis would
be given to strike a balance in the development of less development
areas like Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, FATA and Balochistan.
Projects of national importance like construction of Diamer-Bhasha dam
would also received special attention.
The Minister said the NEC decided that instead of diverting money on
numerous new projects, allocations in the PSDP for the next year would
be made for completion of on-going 268 projects.
He said the Planning Commission has prepared a compendium of completed projects to ensure transparency. SANA
