Pakistan’s National Economic Council (NEC) has approved a revised development plan for fiscal year 2026-27, significantly reducing previously proposed uplift projects nationwide. The overall development budget has been trimmed, with Punjab province bearing the brunt of the cuts, losing a substantial portion of its planned funding. The NEC approved a total of Rs1,248.1 billion for development projects, a decrease from earlier estimates. This reduction is attributed to fiscal constraints and the need to prioritize debt servicing and essential expenditures. Key sectors like water resources, energy, and transport will see reduced investment. Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan also experienced cuts, though less severe than Punjab’s. The NEC meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, emphasized the importance of efficient resource utilization and project implementation.