ISLAMABAD, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan's National Economic Council (NEC), the country's highest constitutional body for economic planning, on Wednesday approved a national development budget of 3.669 trillion Pakistani rupees (about 13 billion U.S. dollars) for the fiscal year 2026-27 and set a 4-percent economic growth target for the next fiscal year.
The decisions were made at an NEC meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, according to a statement from the Prime Minister's Office.
The council approved allocations of 1 trillion rupees for the federal Public Sector Development Program, 2.218 trillion rupees for provincial development programs, and 451 billion rupees for state-owned enterprises.
The meeting also approved a 3.7-percent GDP growth rate for fiscal year 2025-26.
Sharif said an export-led economy remains the government's top priority and stressed closer coordination between federal and provincial governments to achieve sustainable growth.
The prime minister identified population growth, health challenges, child stunting, out-of-school children and youth unemployment as major national concerns, adding that efforts are underway to equip young people with technical and vocational skills.
The council also approved 11 economic development missions under the government's "Uraan Pakistan" initiative and directed relevant authorities to prepare implementation roadmaps. ■
