ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms, Ahsan Iqbal on Saturday said that the government set aside a hefty amount of Rs 180 billion for the game-changer mega project of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which would open new avenues of development and prosperity in the country.
In a statement, the Minister said, “The budget 2017-18 is people friendly, development friendly and youth friendly.”
“For the first time in the country’s history, volume of federal Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) has crossed Rs 1 trillion mark while the overall development budget including provinces and corporations has been fixed at over Rs 2.5 trillion,” he said.
He also said, “Backward areas of the country will be given special attention in the development programme.” He said, “After 10 years, the country’s economic growth has crossed 5 per cent which would cross 6 per cent next year.”
The Minister said, “Record 66 percent increase in the budget of Higher Education Commission (HEC) will help promote quality education in the country and enable youth in grabbing their bright future.” DNA