ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning Development and Reform Ahsan Iqbal said on Friday that the next year 8,000 to 10,000 megawatt of electricity would be added to the national grid.

The federal minister was speaking to media representatives after the National Economic Council?s meeting.

He said that the development budget has been increased up to three times. The federal minister said that Rs1.80 billion have been allocated to the CPEC and related development projects.

For the first time in ten years, the GDP has risen to 5.3 percent, which is a very positive news, said Iqbal.

He said that during the NEC session, the development budget and economic framework have been approved.

The inflation ratio has been set to six percent for the next year, while the economic development?s budget has been kept at the same ratio.

When this government came the development budget was RS360 billion while the recent government raised it to Rs1,000 billion, said Iqbal.

Development should not be politicised: PM Nawaz Sharif

NEC approves Rs1,001 billion for federal, Rs1,112b for provinces' development budgets

The federal minister further said that for Gwadar and its development Rs 31 billion have been reserved.

The NEC, headed by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, finalised the development budget of financial year 2017/18 today.

Addressing the participants of the meeting, PM Sharif said development (of the country) should not be politicised as it is for the prosperity of every citizen.

The PM added that the federal and provincial governments are working in harmony for the country?s development and should continue on this path.