Islamabad: Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal has said the country’s National Development Outlay has increased by fifty percent in two years. Addressing a news conference in Islamabad, he noted that the national development outlay was 2.832 trillion rupees in 2023-24 and it has now risen to 4.2 trillion rupees.

According to Radio Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal attributed this increase to enhanced revenue collection, explaining that the provinces receive a sixty percent share in the collected revenue, which has led to a rise in their annual development plans. The Minister for Planning stated that their five-year plan envisaged allocation of 4.2 trillion rupees for the development budget in the fifth year, but this target has been achieved in the second year.

Highlighting the priorities, Ahsan Iqbal mentioned that it has been decided to put Balochistan on the path of accelerated development, with two hundred and thirty billion rupees earmarked in the development budget for projects in Balochistan to improve its connectivity. He also stated that the next focus is on the water sector and the completion of water reservoirs, emphasizing that Diamer Bhasha and Mohmand Dams will be completed on a priority basis.

Furthermore, infrastructure projects that improve regional connectivity are a priority. The government is focusing on equipping the youth with the latest skills, with plans to train over two hundred thousand youth in IT skills. In the health sector, an Elimination of Hepatitis program has been initiated at a cost of sixty four billion rupees, and new institutions like Jinnah Medical Complex and Daanish University will be established in the federal capital.

A special economic zone on five hundred acres of land is planned for Karachi. The Uraan Pakistan framework is being advanced with a target to achieve sustainable growth. The country’s economic growth remained at 2.7 percent in the current fiscal year, with a target of 4.2 percent for the next fiscal year.