Public Sector Development Programme: Govt spends major chunk of Rs640bn on infrastructure
According to a document shared by the Ministry of Planning, there was Rs1,100 billion budgeted allocation for financial year 2024-25. A total of Rs1,094 billion (99.5 per cent) were authorised and Rs1,045 billion (96 per cent) were utilised for development projects.
About sector-wise utilisation, Rs640 billion (61 per cent) for infrastructure sector, Rs179.5 billion (17 per cent) for social sector, Rs20.4 (2 per cent) for governance sector, Rs57.8 billion (6 per cent) for science and IT sector, Rs5.5 billion (0.5 per cent) for industries and production sector, and Rs141.3 billion (13.5 per cent) for special areas and merged districts.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
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Express Tribune
15 hours ago
- Express Tribune
PSX closes week up on optimism
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Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Essential kitchen items' prices stay stable
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The moment stockists start supplying the commodity at the government fixed rates, the retailers will bring down the prices. Wheat flour price remained unchanged as the best quality wheat flour ex-mill per 15kg bag is available at Rs1,100, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,150 per 15kg bag; and normal quality wheat flour per 15kg bag is available at Rs1,000, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,050 per bag. After a significant reduction of Rs1,400 per 15 kg bag in wheat flour price over the past 18 months, the tandoor owners in some parts of the federal capital have reduced the roti, naan and paratha prices as in some parts of the federal capital, roti is available at Rs16 against Rs20, naan at Rs20 against Rs25 and paratha at Rs45 against Rs50; however, Quetta hotels chain has not reduced paratha price and are selling at highest rate of Rs60 per paratha. The bakers instead of reducing the biscuits, bread and confectionery items prices, have increased the prices of bakery items despite over 56 per cent reduction in flour prices over 31 per cent reduction in ghee/cooking oil prices. During the past two years, top quality cooking oil/ghee prices such as Dalda reduced by 25 per cent from Rs3,600 per 5 kg to Rs2,700 and normal ghee prices reduced by 31 per cent from Rs8,800 per carton of 16 packs to Rs6,100. The prices of cooked food items remained stable as a cooked daal/vegetable plate at a normal hotel is available at Rs320, cooked beef plate at Rs550, cooked chicken plate at Rs500, cooked mutton at Rs750 and naan/roti is being sold at Rs25/30. Mutton and beef prices remained stable as normal quality mutton was available at Rs2,200 per kg, normal quality boneless beef at Rs1,400 per kg, and normal beef at Rs1,100 per kg. Various varieties of fishes are available in the range of Rs500 to Rs900 per kg. No changes were witnessed in tea prices, as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs2,200 per 900 grams pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs1,800 per kg; normal quality turmeric powder is available at Rs650 against Rs600 per kg and normal quality red chili powder at Rs800 per kg. Pulses prices remained stable as maash pulse is available at Rs390 per kg, gram pulse at Rs270 per kg, whole gram pulse at Rs250 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils in the range of Rs400-500 per kg, moong at Rs380 per kg, and masoor at Rs280 per kg. The prices of branded spices such as Shan, National, and others, also remained stable as a pack of 39 grams of spice is available at Rs140. The prices of the various varieties of rice remained stable as the best quality basmati price in wholesale market is available at Rs14,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs390 per kg, normal quality Basmati at RS13,000 per 40 kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs360 per kg, and broken Basmati at Rs10,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs260 per kg. Ghee/cooking oil prices remained stable as B-grade ghee/oil is available at Rs6,300 per carton of 16 packs in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs420 against Rs400 per pack of 900 grams, while best quality cooking oil/ghee brands such as Dalda ghee in wholesale market are available at Rs2,750 per 5kg tin which in retail are being sold at Rs2,850 per 5-litre bottle. Prices of packed milk brands, Milk Pak, Olpers and others remained stable at Rs2,350 per carton, while in retail 250ml packed milk is being sold at Rs95 per 250ml. Similarly, litre pack at Rs370 per litre. 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According to LPG traders, the LPG marketing companies and distributors are earning billions of rupees profit by overcharging the consumers, while the OGRA which totally depends on district administration including police have totally ignored the enforcement of official commodity rates. Moreover, LPG distributors and retailers are freely selling LPG by decanting in violation of the laws as a result every other day LPG cylinder blasts are claiming precious lives. Overall vegetable and fruit prices witnessed a mixed trend as potatoes price remained stable at Rs3,400-5,200 per quintal, while in retail potatoes are being sold in the range of Rs65-100 per kg; onion price in wholesale market remained stable at Rs1,500-3,000 per quintal, which retail are being sold in the range of Rs75-100 against government set price of Rs24-42 per kg and tomato prices went up from Rs600 to Rs900 per basket of 15kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs100-300 against set price of Rs63-90 per kg. Ginger price is stable at Rs1,500/1,600 per 5kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs450-500 per kg, local garlic price went up from Rs750 to Rs900 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs220 against Rs200 per kg, Quetta garlic price is stable at Rs900 per 5 kg which in retail is being sold at Rs250 per kg and China garlic price is also stable at Rs1,150 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs250-300 per kg, but venders are selling local garlic in the name of China/Quetta to maximize their profits. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
21 hours ago
- Business Recorder
Remittance incentive scheme to continue
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday announced the continuation of the government's facilitation scheme aimed at encouraging overseas Pakistanis to remit money through formal banking channels. The initiative, titled the Workers' Remittances Incentive Scheme, seeks to support the country's economy by bolstering foreign exchange reserves and maintaining external account stability. In a directive issued to the Ministry of Finance, the prime minister ordered the immediate release of funds on a priority basis to sustain the scheme. Pakistan govt decides to continue remittance incentive scheme The move comes in the wake of a record-high $38.3 billion in remittances received during the financial year 2025 - a historic milestone that played a pivotal role in helping the country achieve a current account surplus for the first time in 14 years. 'Overseas Pakistanis are our strength and a valuable national asset,' PM Sharif said, adding that the hard-earned remittances sent by Pakistanis living abroad are deeply valued and contribute significantly to national development. He also noted that these inflows had not only helped manage the country's swelling import bill but also strengthened its foreign exchange reserves. 'From migrant labourers to expatriate businessmen, all have played an integral role in supporting Pakistan's economy through remittances.' PM Sharif affirmed his government's commitment to removing hurdles in the remittance process and making the system more efficient and accessible. The continuation of the incentive scheme is seen as part of broader efforts to formalise remittance channels and stabilise the national economy. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
