ISLAMABAD, May 30: The National Economic Council meets on Wednesday to approve a five-point growth and development strategy for next year, envisaging water and energy security, development of infrastructure, social sector and human skills and introduction of second generation reforms.

The size of the Public Sector Development Programme, to be placed before the NEC for approval, is estimated at Rs385 billion, including Rs270 billion of the federal programme and Rs115 billion of the provincial programmes to be self-financed by the provinces.

However, it contains Rs20 billion financing gap, leaving the confirmed financial availability of Rs250 billion federal projects.

If development investments indicated by the Planning Commission are put together, the total size of the PSDP will be about Rs471 billion.

It includes a financing gap of Rs20 billion, Rs50 billion allocation for earthquake, Rs25 billion for Khushhal Pakistan Programme and Rs36 billion to be raised by Wapda and the National Highway Authority through bonds and other loan instruments, outside the PSDP.

The Rs415 billion development programme includes Rs250 billion for the federal programmes, Rs115 billion annual development plans of the four provinces and Rs50 billion earthquake-related expenditure.

An amount of Rs132.5 billion has been indicated for infrastructure sector, Rs130.8 billion for social sectors and Rs6.7 billion for other sectors.

The Rs250 billion net financing of federal programmes include Rs170.2 billion for various ministries, Rs16.2 billion for Azad Kashmir, Federally Administered tribal Areas and the Northern Areas and Rs48.2 billion for corporations.

An amount of Rs55.3 billion has been recommended for completion of ongoing water sector projects against current year’s allocation of Rs41.7 billion.