ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet Monday approved multibillion-rupee Technical Supplementary Grants (TSG) for various ministries for the outgoing fiscal year ending on June 30.
The TSGs included Rs40.34 billion for the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) on account of revised budget estimates for repayment of short-term foreign loan credits. The meeting met here with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb in the chair.
The committee reviewed several summaries from various ministries and divisions, seeking technical supplementary grants (TSGs), as well as addressing the other crucial matters. The committee considered and decided the following TSGs:
1. Rs1.259 billion for Ministry of Finance to return the amount to the Government of Sindh as unutilized funds from wheat seed cash reimbursement programme.
2. Rs5.6 billion for the Ministry of Finance as rupee cover for ADB-funded Women Inclusive Finance (WIF) project.
3. Rs231.893 million for the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control to meet the additional funds requirement of civil armed forces.
4. Rs64 million for the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control on account of staff transferred to the CDA from the Pak PWD
5. Rs50 million for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to support Pildat for promotion of democracy by focusing on governance and public policy.
6. Rs90 million for the Petroleum Division for execution of gas schemes in the Punjab.
7. Rs100 million for the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety as grant-in-aid to release the funds for the SOS Children’s Villages Pakistan.
8. Rs1.889 billion for the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for clearing advertising liabilities and other expenditures.
9. Rs2.150 billion for the Ministry of Housing and Works for onward transfer to the Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited for execution of development schemes of Swabi District.
10. Rs1.70 billion for the Ministry of Defence for technological upgradation of ISPR.
11. Rs400 million for the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control for development expenditure under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP).
12. Rs40.34 billion for the Economic Affairs Division on account of revised budget estimates for FY2024-25 for repayment of short-term foreign loan credits.
13. Rs2.232 million for the Ministry of Law and Justice for reimbursement of funds to the CDA in respect of project covering establishment of district courts in Islamabad.
14. Rs2.750 million for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Programme.
15. Rs750 million for the Power Division for development expenditure.
16. Rs1.2 billion for the Ministry of Interior for arrangement of 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad.
17. Rs14 million for the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan for employees related expenditure.
18. Rs294 million for the Ministry of Finance for merged Ministry of KAGB and Safron.
The committee also took up and approved a summary by the Power Division for approval of a tripartite power purchase agreement of 1145MG Karachi Nuclear Plant Unit-2 (K-2) and Unit-3 (K-3) at Karachi.
On a summary of the Petroleum Division regarding the Machike-Thallian-Tarrujabba White Oil Pipeline, the committee fully backed the project but deferred the matter until the next ECC meeting for detailed working by the finance, planning and petroleum divisions on the financial and operational modalities of the proposal.
The ECC also considered a summary by the Ministry of Commerce and approved an amendment in the import policy order (IPO) for the state-owned defence production entities and their wholly owned commercial subsidiaries.
The committee discussed and approved a proposal by the Finance Division for establishment of ‘Women Inclusive Finance Support Fund’ Trust under the Asian Development Bank funded women inclusive finance project.
The ECC also considered a summary by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research seeking a notification of minimum indicative prices of tobacco crop (2025) and revision of cess rates on tobacco for the year 2025-26.
The cabinet body discussed the matter and approved the proposal with instructions to the ministry to come up with a plan to do away with the existing regime in future in line with the government policy of promoting deregulation in the crop sector.
The ECC also considered and approved a summary by the Ministry of Housing and Works for withdrawal of directives transfer Hyderabad Package (PSDP#223) and Karachi (PSDEP#222) from the Government of Sindh to PIDCL.
The cabinet body also considered and approved a summary by the Finance Division, outlining the policy for the grant of honorarium to the government employees.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Chairman SECP along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions.
