ISLAMABAD:Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said public welfare, development and business friendly policies will be the pivot of budget for next fiscal year.

He was chairing a high-level meeting here in Islamabad on Monday, to consult with the coalition parties for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP). The Prime Minister said volume of Public Sector Development Program is being increased from 700 billion to 950 billion rupees to accelerate the growth rate and employment opportunities in the next financial year.

He said next financial year will be the year of economic development for Pakistan. He said the government is adopting the policy of utilizing the available resources in the best way despite the difficult economic situation.

Shehbaz Sharif said a significant amount is also being kept for the development and reconstruction of the flood affected areas. He said consultation of coalition parties is highly significant in every initiative.

He noted with satisfaction how the ruling coalition saved the country from economic and political turmoil through mutual cooperation and beyond their political interests.

The meeting was told that the National Flood Response Program, which has been delayed for years, is being re-launched. The meeting was also briefed in detail about the budget figures and the proposed projects under the development budget.

On the occasion, leaders and representatives of the coalition parties termed Prime Minister’s initiative to take the allies into confidence and include their suggestions in the budget for the development budget of 2023-24 as historic and thanked him.

They gave their proposals for the development budget which the Prime Minister directed the Finance Minister to consider and include them in the budget.

Federal Ministers Ishaq Dar, Ahsan Iqbal, Maulana Asad Mahmood, Rana Tanveer Hussain, Maulana Abdul Wasay, Syed Aminul Haq, Agha Hassan Baloch, Sardar Israr Tareen, Advisor to Prime Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Ministers of State, Hashim Notezai, Ehsanullah Riki, Members of National Assembly and convener Muttahida Qaumi Movement Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, members of National Assembly Aslam Bhutani, Mohsin Dawar, Sardar Hussain Babak of Awami National Party and relevant senior officials participated in the meeting.

Federal Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Member National Assembly and Chairman Balochistan National Party Sardar Akhtar Mengal attended the meeting through video link.