Islamabad: In a firm commitment to uphold transparency, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the government’s dedication to integrity in managing development projects amid economic challenges. Speaking at the annual review meeting of the Public Sector Development Programme for 2023-24, he stressed that no misuse of the development budget would be tolerated and outlined strategies to ensure that only projects with significant positive impacts on citizens’ lives would be pursued.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Minister Iqbal highlighted the adverse effects of political disruptions on the development budget. He noted that had the government’s efforts continued uninterrupted since 2018, the development budget might have soared to 3,000 billion rupees. Instead, current figures stand significantly lower at 1,100 billion rupees due to ongoing challenges. He also called on ministries and provincial governments to align their budget demands and project planning with the nation’s broader priorities, ensuring that every initiative directly benefits the public and contributes to national development.