The National Economic Council (NEC) is scheduled to meet today under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to review and potentially approve the country’s development budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
According to sources, the council will consider a development outlay of approximately Rs4.46 trillion, covering both federal and provincial spending plans. The proposed budget is expected to focus on infrastructure development, public welfare projects and economic growth initiatives across the country.
Sources said the federal government is likely to present a development budget of Rs1.32 trillion, while the four provinces are expected to receive a combined allocation of around Rs3.14 trillion. The meeting is expected to be attended by all provincial chief ministers, finance ministers and the prime minister of Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Under the proposed distribution, Punjab is expected to receive the largest allocation of Rs1.45 trillion for development projects. Sindh may be allocated Rs816 billion, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is likely to receive Rs564 billion. Balochistan’s development budget is expected to stand at approximately Rs308 billion.
The NEC, Pakistan’s highest constitutional body for economic planning and coordination between the federation and provinces, plays a key role in approving development priorities and public sector investment plans.
Today’s meeting comes after previous sessions of the council were postponed. A meeting scheduled for June 8 was deferred following reports of differences between the federal government and the Pakistan Peoples Party over certain issues. Earlier, a meeting planned for June 3 was also postponed.
Officials say the council will review development priorities for the next fiscal year and discuss strategies aimed at supporting economic growth, improving public services and advancing major infrastructure projects nationwide.
The outcome of the meeting is expected to shape Pakistan’s development agenda and guide federal and provincial spending decisions for the coming year.