ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari has established the National Economic Council, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, according to a notification from the Cabinet Division issued on Friday.

“In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (1) of Article 156 of the Constitution of Pakistan, the president of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is pleased to constitute the National Economic Council […],” the notification stated.

The document indicates that the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Balochistan will be members of the newly formed council. Additionally, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, and Ahsan Iqbal, are also part of the NEC.

The notification also mentioned that the Planning Commission’s deputy chairman, the finance secretary, the secretary on economic affairs, and federal minister Ahad Cheema could attend council meetings by special invitation.

Furthermore, four members have been nominated to the National Economic Council by the respective chief ministers under paragraph (b) of clause (1) of Article 156 of the Constitution. These members are Senior Minister for Planning and Development Marriyum Aurangzeb, Sindh Minister for Irrigation Jam Khan Shoro, Adviser to the KP Chief Minister on Finance Muzammil Aslam, and Balochistan Minister for Planning and Development Zahoor Ahmed Buledi.

The first meeting of the National Economic Council is scheduled for June 10.