Preparation for 13th five-year plan: Govt forms 23 expert groups on key economic issues

ISLAMABAD: The caretaker government on Thursday constituted 23 expert groups on key economic issues for preparing the 13th Five Year Plan (2024-25 to 2028-29) including macroeconomic framework, balance of Payment, Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), food and agriculture, population, poverty, governance reforms and others.

These experts’ groups have been given deadline to prepare their recommendations/reports till December 15, 2023. Around 500 experts have been included into different 23 experts groups for preparing the next Five Year Plan.

The Terms of Reference (ToRs) of these working groups are included that these working groups will work, share their recommendations and hold discussions to identify issues and suggest interventions (policies, special initiatives and investments) in their respective sectors; Working of the groups will be documented in the form of a report/chapter to be used in the 13th FYP; Any other task the Working Group deems appropriate.

The chairperson of the Working Group may be decided by the group concerned in its meeting. The chairperson may co-opt any other member(s), if required.

According to notification issued by Ministry of Planning on Thursday stating that secretary, Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives has been pleased to constitute Working Groups for the preparation of 13th Five Year Plan (FYP 2024-29).

The composition of working groups included macroeconomic framework - growth, investment & savings, balance of payments, fiscal, monetary and capital market developments, Public Sector Development Program, food, agriculture and rural transformation,

industry, investment and competitiveness, information and communications technology, population, energy, basic and college education, knowledge and technology based development (HE and S&T), health, nutrition, labour, employment and skill development, youth and sports, mass media, culture, national heritage and tourism, water resources, transport & logistics, physical planning and housing, poverty, SDGS, social protection and women empowerment, institutional reforms and governance, balanced development-focus on less developed regions, climate change and environment/ disaster management and resilience.

All concerned sections are, therefore, requested to complete consultation prospective Working Groups latest by 15th December, 2023 and final chapter(s) duly approves member may be shared with Plan Coord Section latest by 20th December, 2023.

It is also informed that 13th Five Year Plan is an operational document, therefor required to incorporate Implementation matrix for proposed interventions.