Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal on Thursday launched the Monthly Development Update for July 2025, noting the government had utilized Rs. 1,046 billion, or 96% of allocated amounts, of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for Fiscal Year 2024–25.
Maintaining this reflected strong implementation, he said it was driving inclusive growth through targeted investments in exports, innovation, and human development. The PSDP, he recalled, was limited to Rs. 754 billion last year but was now back on the path of growth. He noted that GDP growth is on an upward trajectory, inflation has eased, and both fiscal and external sector stability have been achieved.
Iqbal told journalists remittances had surpassed $38 billion, registering a 27% increase in one year, claiming this reflected the growing trust of overseas Pakistanis in the government’s economic management. Similarly, he noted, the Pakistan Stock Exchange recorded a 65% increase in FY2024–25, placing it among the world’s best-performing markets. This remarkable surge reflects strong investor confidence in Pakistan’s economic recovery, he stressed.
The minister said the Central Development Working Party (CDWP) had approved 33 projects in June 2025, of which 19 major projects were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council. In the coming months, he said, these initiatives would create approximately 9,968 direct and 47,174 indirect jobs.
In the current fiscal year, said Iqbal, development projects in Balochistan have been prioritized, with Rs. 210 billion allocated for 147 initiatives. Infrastructure projects in Balochistan would help stimulate the province’s economy, he said, driving development, and creating employment opportunities. Similarly, he said, a major digital connectivity project worth Rs. 2,150 million was underway in 30 cities of Pakistan-administered Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, expanding access to education, healthcare, tourism, and business opportunities in remote areas.
On monitoring and evaluation, the minister said his ministry had exceeded its target by covering 261 projects in FY2024–25 against a goal of 240. In June 2025 alone, 20 mega projects were monitored and five evaluated, reinforcing transparency and impact-driven planning.
On macroeconomic indicators, Iqbal said Pakistan’s total liquid foreign exchange reserves had risen by 26% year-on-year, while inflation dropped to a nine-year low of 4.5% against 23.4% the year prior. He attributed these gains to effective administrative, policy, and relief measures. He claimed improvement in Pakistan’s passport ranking from 113 to 100 also indicated growing international trust and greater global mobility for Pakistani citizens.
The minister said electricity tariffs had also dropped considerably, with an overall 35% decrease.
Iqbal said the world had witnessed the country’s progress under the URAAN Pakistan initiative, covering economic recovery, defense, and diplomacy. He said Operation Bunyanul Marsoos had helped Pakistan reaffirm its defense superiority in the region, adding the world had acknowledged Pakistan’s principled stance on the Pahalgam attack and the Iran–Israel tensions. He praised Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for their exceptional contributions to strengthening Pakistan’s defense sector, calling their leadership a matter of national pride.
Highlighting youth engagement, Iqbal announced the successful launch of the URAAN Overseas Summer Internship Program, under which 31 Pakistani students from top international universities have come to Pakistan for a six-week internship. “We received 2,300 applications, and after a rigorous merit-based selection process, 31 outstanding young scholars were chosen,” he said. “They are here to contribute to national development and represent the bright future of Pakistan.”
The minister emphasized that the Ministry of Planning is committed to transparency and evidence-based policymaking. As part of this effort, it is regularly releasing Monthly Development Updates to highlight major economic trends backed by credible data.