Islamabad, 14th March, 2019; 3rd meeting of the Standing Committee on Planning Development and Reform was held today at 3:00 p.m. in the PIPS Hall of Parliament Lodges, Islamabad, under the Chairmanship of Mr. Junaid Akbar, MNA.

2.         The Committee confirmed minutes of its second meeting held on 28th February, 2019. The Ministry also gave a compliance report regarding the recommendations of the previous meeting which was appreciated by the Standing Committee.

3.         The Federal Secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform, Mr. Zafar Hassan started the agenda wise briefing which included Budget Making Process, 12th Five Year Plan and the Multidimensional Poverty Index. The Committee was of the view that the Chairman Standing Committee should also be a member of the National Economic Council to ensure the involvement of the Standing Committee in planning and approval of projects. The Ministry apprised the Committee regarding the 12th Five Year Plan which was being formulated according to the core policies of the present government. The Committee was informed that as per practice in vogue, the Federal Government’s Public Sector Development Programs as well as the Provincial Governments’ Annual Development Programs are synchronized according to the themes of National Five Years Plan.

4.         During the briefing, the Chair emphasized the members to play an active and positive role in improving the overall functioning of the Ministry in national interest. Makhdoom Khusro Bukhtiar, Federal Minister of Planning, Development & Reform also attended the meeting. The Chair appreciated his presence and stressed that the Minister should try to make his availability in the Committee meetings to make them more fruitful in future as well.

5.         Honorable Members/MNAs Mr. Sher Akbar Khan, Mr. Saleh Muhammad, Mr. Shaukat Ali, Syed Faiz Ul Hassan, Mr. Nawab Sher, Mr. Muhammad Ibrahim Khan, Dr. Seemi Bukhari, Ms. Shandana Gulzar Khan, Mr. Muhammad Sajjad, Mr. Muhammad Junaid Anwaar Chaudhary, Sardar Muhammad Irfan Dogar, Mr. Naveed Dero, Syed Agha Rafiullah, Mr. Abdul Shakoor and senior officers from the Ministry of Planning, Development & Reform attended the meeting.