8 h. ago Pakistan approves Rs 25 billion for key projects, focuses on energy, education, and digital growth

The Central Development Working Party (CDWP) has approved eight major projects worth Rs 25.19 billion. Additionally, it recommended a Rs 10.67 billion hydropower project in Gilgit-Baltistan to ECNEC for final approval. These decisions were made in a meeting chaired by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, aiming to boost growth in energy, education, transport, and IT sectors. […]

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3 d. ago Ahsan highlights development priorities, says Balochistan put on accelerated path

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, while highlighting development priorities of the government, said here on Thursday that Balochistan has been put on accelerated development path for which Rs230 billion have been earmarked in the federal budget 2025-26. Addressing a press conference here, the minister said, development of Balochistan was […]

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3 d. ago Ahsan Iqbal unveils Rs. 4.2 trillion development budget to lead Pakistan from crisis to confidence

Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal presented Pakistan’s Development Budget for 2025–2026, highlighting a strong shift from crisis to confidence. He reminded the nation that just two years ago, Pakistan was on the edge of economic collapse. Now, the country is focusing on growth, stability, and transformation. The GDP has started to rebound with 2.7% growth this […]

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4 d. ago Ahsan Iqbal says PTI left Pakistan bankrupt, we are fixing their damage

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said PTI left Pakistan’s economy in ruins. He called PTI a proxy for India. He added that his government is still removing the economic problems left behind by PTI. These problems, he said, are like landmines planted in the country’s progress. Iqbal explained that when his party took power, many […]

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4 d. ago Pakistan unveils national big data portal and quantum valley to power digital future

Pakistan took a major leap in digital transformation as Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal officially launched the National Big Data Portal on Thursday. Developed by LUMS and backed by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the platform will offer centralized access to public data for researchers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and citizens. It includes geo-tagged data from over […]

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1 week ago Govt achieves Rs4 trn development outlay three years ahead of schedule

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday said the incumbent government had achieved a significant milestone by preparing a Rs4 trillion national development outlay for the fiscal year 2025–26, in just the second year of its five-year term, a target originally scheduled for 2028–29. Speaking to the media at the […]

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2 w. ago Govt to focus on key projects as budget shrinks to Rs880bn: Ahsan Iqbal

The federal government has decided to focus only on high-priority development projects in the upcoming fiscal year due to limited funds. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said on Monday that the total Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) now stands at Rs880 billion, excluding Rs120bn for the N-25 expressway upgrade in Balochistan. The rest of the development […]

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2 w. ago Ahsan Iqbal: Next year’s development budget reduced by Rs100 billion

Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has announced that the government will allocate Rs1,000 billion for development in the 2025–26 budget, down from Rs1,100 billion this fiscal year. He called it a “difficult but focused” adjustment made to stay within fiscal limits. Speaking at the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) meeting, he confirmed that Rs250 billion […]

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2 w. ago Ahsan Iqbal pushes for swift trade pact with Turkmenistan to boost regional ties

ISLAMABAD – Federal Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has called for the speedy finalization of the Pakistan-Turkmenistan Transit Trade Agreement, describing it as key to unlocking trade routes between Central and South Asia. He made these remarks during a meeting with Pakistan’s Ambassador-designate to Turkmenistan, Dr. Faryal Leghari, on Saturday. The minister emphasized that Turkmenistan’s proximity […]

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2 w. ago Shahbaz Sharif and field marshal Asim Munir to lead key tribal jirga in Quetta

Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif reached Quetta on a one-day visit to attend a major tribal jirga. He was welcomed at the airport by Balochistan’s Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti and Acting Governor Abdul Khaliq Achakzai. Several federal ministers, including Ahsan Iqbal, Attaullah Tarar, and National Assembly member Jamal Shah Kakr, accompanied him. Military officials […]

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2 w. ago Ahsan invites CAREC member states to link value chains with Pakistan’s SEZs

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday invited Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation (CAREC) member states to integrate their value chains with Pakistan’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and explore opportunities for cross-border industrial clusters, leveraging Pakistan’s preferential trade agreements with China, ASEAN and the Middle East. He extended this invitation […]

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3 w. ago Planning Minister hints at raising defence budget due to regional security situation

It is a national duty to provide armed forces whatever they need in this budget to bolster the country’s defense: Ahsan Iqbal LAHORE: Federal Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday hinted at raising the defense budget for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26 following the recent escalation with India and New […]

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3 w. ago No IMF pressure on budget, defense budget to increase, public will get relief: Ahsan Iqbal

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal stated that the government faces no pressure from the IMF regarding the upcoming budget. He confirmed that due to the current security situation in the region, the defense budget will see a significant increase. At the same time, the government remains committed to providing financial […]

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