Islamabad: The Ministry of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives has approved strategic guidelines for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2025-26, aiming to prioritize projects that contribute directly to national development goals. The approval came during a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal.
Minister Iqbal emphasized the importance of rationalizing PSDP liabilities by focusing on projects with at least 80% financial progress. He directed that low-priority schemes be suspended to reallocate resources to high-impact initiatives that can maximize socioeconomic returns within the current fiscal year.
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In alignment with the “Uraan Pakistan” framework, a key component of the National Transformation Plan 2024-2029, the PSDP 2025-26 will focus on projects that deliver clear, measurable socioeconomic benefits. Iqbal stressed that only projects directly contributing to national priorities would be included in the PSDP, with an outcome-driven, performance-based approach ensuring public accountability.
Iqbal also emphasized the need to expedite ongoing PSDP projects, especially those financed through foreign aid and concessional loans, to avoid delays and cost escalations. He criticized the previous government for making significant budget cuts to the PSDP between 2018 and 2022, which, according to him, hindered the country’s development progress.
The meeting also highlighted the need for transparency and accountable resource management to ensure that PSDP projects contribute to Pakistan’s long-term growth and development agenda.
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The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment to creating an investment-friendly environment, enhancing public expenditure quality, and ensuring that PSDP projects meet national development objectives effectively.