ISLAMABAD, Feb 09 (APP): Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Professor Ahsan Iqbal, said on Monday that Rs 5.5 billion had been saved in development projects during the period from July to January 2026, reflecting improved financial discipline and reform-oriented governance.
The Minister announced that Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif had approved a Rs 13,000 stipend under the Ramadan relief package and decided to extend the program to 1.7 million additional families to support low-income households during the holy month.
The minister was speaking at the launch of the Monthly Development Report at the auditorium of the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives. A detailed report on government reforms was also presented on the occasion, appreciating the performance and outcomes of ongoing reforms.
Professor Iqbal said that Rs 7.2 trillion in taxes were collected from July to January, compared to Rs 6.5 trillion during the same period of the previous fiscal year.
He added that Rs 555 billion were approved for development projects during this period, out of which the Federal Ministry of Finance released Rs 338 billion, while Rs 272 billion have already been spent.
Highlighting improvements in external inflows, the minister said that remittances reached $19.7 billion from July to January, indicating growing confidence of overseas Pakistanis in the country’s economy.
He stated that strict implementation of tax reforms was underway and emphasized that these reforms would help curb tax evasion. Referring to perceptions about corruption, he said that Pakistan’s image had been wrongly portrayed by some quarters. According to surveys conducted by Chambers of Commerce and Industry, he said, the bribery rate was shown as 27 percent, contrary to the widely circulated impression that 67 percent of people were forced to pay bribes.
Professor Iqbal criticized repeated negative narratives about the country, stating that such portrayals only spread disappointment. He added that the Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had also expressed satisfaction with Pakistan’s economic performance, noting that signs of improvement were visible globally.
The planning minister said that Pakistan was now moving steadily toward economic stability and development. He noted that inflation increased by 5.2 percent from July to January, with a slight rise in January due to seasonal factors.