Ishaq Dar Calls for Strengthening Planning Commission to Drive Pakistan’s Economic Reforms

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired a meeting on economic reforms, underscoring the historic and central role of Pakistan’s Planning Commission (PC) in shaping economic and development policy. He emphasized empowering the PC to set strategic priorities and oversee public investment effectively.

Dar proposed that the Planning Commission serve as the apex economic body under the direct leadership of the Prime Minister, with an integrated Policy & Planning Wing and a separate Development Wing. He stressed that all major economic decisions must align with the national economic strategy and be guided by clear KPIs to ensure accountability and coherence across the government.

He further highlighted that the PC should act as the central clearinghouse for economic decisions, providing guidance to ministries and divisions, maintaining policy consistency, and supporting sustainable reforms to strengthen Pakistan’s economic governance.

The meeting was attended by federal ministers for Finance, Planning & Special Initiatives, and Climate Change; Minister of State for Finance & Revenue; SAPM Tariq Bajwa; Secretary Planning; National Coordinator SIFC; and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions.