Amid Sindh protest, National Economic Council approves budget targets

A meeting of the National Economic Council was held under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Imran Khan in which the four Chief Ministers and other officials participated.

According to the statement, the meeting approved the microeconomic framework for the financial year 2021-22 while the council approved setting a growth target of 4.8% for the next financial year.

The growth target for agriculture will be 3.5 per cent, for the industrial sector 6.5 per cent and for the services sector 4.8 per cent, the statement said.

According to the statement, the Ministry of Planning presented the Public Sector Development Program for the financial year 22-2021 and was briefed that the development budget for the current financial year would be Rs1,527 billion as per the revised estimates.

The meeting of the National Economic Council approved to set a development budget of Rs2,100 billion for the financial year 2021 while the volume of PSDP will be Rs900 billion.

According to the statement, the meeting was briefed that the focus of PSDP would be on improvement of infrastructure, water resources and social sector while the focus would be on skill development, science and technology and IT development and environment.

It was informed in the briefing that PSDP will meet the needs of the

The briefing states that the PSDP will meet the needs of the backward areas that are lagging.

Appropriate funds have been allocated for South Balochistan, some districts of Sindh, Gilgit-Baltistan and Rs54 billion for integrated areas.

It was stated in the briefing that Rs 42 billion is being set aside for Higher Education Commission in social sectors.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah protests in the council meeting

On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah protested in the meeting. According to sources, the Sindh Chief Minister protested against the low development budget for the province.

Sources said that the Sindh Chief Minister decided to submit a dissenting note on having a low development budget.