PM directs to make next budget public welfare, business-friendly

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed to make the upcoming fiscal year budget 2023-24 public welfare and business-friendly.          

On Monday, he presided over a special meeting in Islamabad to engage with the coalition parties regarding the Public Sector Development Programme budget that will be increased from 700 billion to 950 billion rupees in order to boost employment opportunities and growth rates in the upcoming fiscal year.

The PM expressed hope that Pakistan's economy will grow in the upcoming fiscal year despite the challenging economic climate.

Shehbaz Sharif said a sizeable sum has also been set aside for the improvement and rehabilitation of flood-affected districts.

He said next financial year will be the year of economic development for Pakistan. He said the government is adopting the policy of utilizing the available resources in the best way despite the difficult economic situation.

Shehbaz Sharif said a significant amount is also being kept for the development and reconstruction of the flood affected areas.

Shehbaz Sharif said consultation of coalition parties is highly significant in every initiative. He noted with satisfaction how the ruling coalition saved the country from economic and political turmoil through mutual cooperation and beyond their political interests.             

The meeting was told the National Flood Response Program, which has been delayed for years, is being re-launched.

The meeting was also briefed in detail about the budget figures and the proposed projects under the development budget.

On the occasion, leaders and representatives of the coalition parties termed Prime Minister's initiative to take the allies into confidence and include their suggestions in the budget for the development budget of 2023-24 as historic and thanked him.

They gave their proposals for the development budget which the Prime Minister directed the Finance Minister to consider and include them in the budget.

Federal Ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Syed Aminul Haq, Agha Hassan Baloch, Sardar Israr Tareen, Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Ministers of State, Hashim Notezai, Ehsanullah Riki, Members of National Assembly and convener Muttahida Qaumi Movement Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, members of National Assembly Aslam Bhutani, Mohsin Dawar, Sardar Hussain Babak of Awami National Party and relevant senior officials participated. Federal Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Member National Assembly and Chairman Balochistan National Party Sardar Akhtar Mengal attended the meeting through video link.