ISLAMABAD – Prime Minister Imran Khan has set up a National Development Council (NDC), which would comprise the country’s army chief.
According to a notification issued on June 13, the 13-member council set up by Prime Minister Khan will also include the foreign minister and advisor on finance.
The National Development Council (NDC) will aim at setting policies and strategies for development and provide guidelines for regional cooperation, according to the notification.
It will also provide measures for local coordination and provincial chief ministers will also be invited to the council’s meetings.
It will “set policies and strategies for development; formulate and tailor policies to achieve accelerated economic growth; approve long term planning for national and regional connectivity, and provide guidelines for regional cooperation.”
Chaired by PM Khan, the NDC will have as its members: Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs; Federal Minister for Finance/Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance; Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform; Federal Minister for Commerce/Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Industries & Production and Investment; Chief of Army Staff; Secretary to the Prime Minister; Secretary, Foreign Affairs Division; Secretary, Finance Division; Secretary, Planning, Development & Reforms Division.
The provincial chief ministers, Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister, and the chief minister of Gilgit-Baltistan will be conditional members, “on invitation” as will any additional minister or head of a strategic body.
The additional secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office will be the secretary of the council.
