ISLAMABAD, March 20: The government has convened meetings of the Priorities’ Committee early next month to finalise next year’s development programme by April 24 for approval by the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) in the first week of May.

Officials told Dawn that these meetings would be held from April 2 on a daily basis with line ministries and provinces to finalise sector-wise financial allocations for the next year’s Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP 2007-08). The meetings will continue till April 14.

The Priorities’ Committee, comprising senior officials of the finance ministry and the Planning Commission and heads of the ministries concerned, considers every project to be included in the PSDP given its national importance, expected output and availability of funds in a specific year.

The officials said the finance ministry had issued letters in November to all ministries, divisions, provincial governments and autonomous bodies to submit details of their funding utilisation and revised estimates for the year, along with their next year requirements.

Demands for the next year have also been received by the federal government. In a fresh order, the line ministries have been asked to submit their final utilisation status of allocations for the current year by May 15.

The agencies have also been asked to provide information about surplus funds still lying unutilised and whether they would surrender it or would be consuming it before the close of the financial year on June 30, 2007. This will become the basis for allocation of funds for the next year.

They have been advised to submit estimates of additional funds they may require during the current fiscal year so that unutilised funds from other sectors or slow-moving projects could be diverted to them for full utilisation of allocated funds during the current year’s PSDP.

Based on these estimates, the officials said, the Planning Commission would make readjustments in current year’s development allocations.

The centre has also directed the ministries, provincial governments and autonomous bodies to submit details of their foreign exchange requirements for the next year, along with loan grants in aid or commodity aid commitments as their lump sum demands would not be considered in the finalisation of foreign exchange budget for 2007-08.

The officials said the APCC meeting was expected in the first week of May to firm up recommendations for the National Economic Council (NEC) about the development budget.