ISLAMABAD: The National Economic Council (NEC) will meet on Thursday to discuss and approve Rs 825.2 billion Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for next fiscal year and Macro Economic Framework for current as well as projection for next financial year as recommended by the Annual Plan Co-ordination Committee(APCC), it is learnt.
The development programme encompasses Rs 350.2 billion for federal government and Rs 475 billion for all provincial governments to be discussed in the forthcoming NEC meeting. The APCC also recommended Rs 35 billion for FATA, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). According to the documents, Rs 90.85 billion out of Rs 350.2 billion would be foreign aid for development projects. The NEC would also approve target for GDP growth for next year recommended by the APCC.
Prime Minster Yousuf Raza Gilani would chair the meeting in connection with the forthcoming Budget 2012-13. Chief Ministers of all provinces and Gilgit-Baltistan, AJK Prime Minister and the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhawa would participate in the meeting. Finance Minister Dr Abdul Hafiz Sheikh would give a detailed briefing to the Prim Minister and other members on the Budget 2012-13.
When contacted, spokesman for the Planning Commission of Pakistan Ishfaqullah Khan confirmed that the meeting would be held on May 24 (Thursday). He said that the meeting would start at 12 pm. He said the senior officials of Finance Ministry and Planning Commission would also attend the meeting.
Official sources told Business Recorder that the government also allocated Rs 38 million for Prime Minister's special initiative for management of dengue fever and pollen allergy for Islamabad in the budget. However, sources said final approval of this allocation would be given in the NEC meeting.