ISLAMABAD: The Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) is scheduled to meet today (Monday) to finalize Pakistan’s development priorities for the upcoming fiscal year 2025–26. The proposed national development outlay is set to exceed Rs4 trillion, with Rs1 trillion allocated under the federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The high-level meeting will be chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal. It will bring together representatives from federal ministries, provincial governments, and key departments to review and approve proposed funding allocations ahead of the federal budget.
Preliminary figures indicate that Rs1,000 billion will be earmarked under the PSDP, with major investments planned in infrastructure, water resource management, energy, and higher education. When combined with provincial allocations, the total development outlay is projected to surpass Rs4,000 billion.
According to sources, the National Highway Authority (NHA) is poised to receive the largest share—Rs229 billion—highlighting the government’s continued focus on expanding and modernizing the country’s road infrastructure.
Another Rs140 billion is proposed for water resource projects, aligning with national efforts to combat climate change and bolster agricultural resilience.
The Power Division is expected to be allocated Rs105 billion to upgrade transmission networks and expand electricity access. Meanwhile, the Higher Education Commission (HEC) may receive Rs50 billion for higher education initiatives.
A comparatively smaller allocation of Rs4 billion is proposed for the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. Other suggested allocations include Rs3.5 billion for maritime affairs, Rs3 billion each for the information and the industries and production divisions, and Rs1.5 billion for inter-provincial coordination efforts.
Officials noted that the proposals will be refined following deliberations at today’s APCC meeting. The finalized recommendations will then be submitted to the National Economic Council (NEC), which is expected to convene next week under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
