The leaderless Planning Commission, subsequent to the sacking of its Deputy Chairman Nadeemul Haq by the caretakers, has ceased work on the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) of the next fiscal year, an important component of the federal budget, and is waiting for the new elected government to provide guidelines.
The Planning Commission plays a major role in preparation of the PSDP, which is approved by the Annual Plan Co-ordination Committee (APCC) and National Economic Council (NEC), the latter headed by the Prime Minister and former jointly chaired by Finance Minister and the Deputy Chairman Planning Commission. Public Relations Officer (PRO) of Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, Khalid Ali told, Business Recorder that the post of Deputy Chairman was vacant and Secretary of the Commission was performing the routine work. He said that they were waiting for the new elected government to appoint Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission.
Planning Commission Spokesman Muhammad Asif Sheikh told this correspondent that the Commission had done basic work for the preparation of PSDP and was now waiting for the new elected government to take final decisions. He said that final decisions would be taken by the NEC.
He added that the APCC would finalise the macroeconomic framework and PSDP and the representatives of the provinces, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are stakeholders who would contribute to the decision making process with respect to development projects. The NEC chaired by the Prime Minister and attended by the chief ministers of all the provinces grants final approval to the macroeconomic framework and PSDP.
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