Islamabad: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet convened today under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, approving several significant proposals concerning national infrastructure and financial management. The committee endorsed initiatives including the procurement of civil works for a major road project and amendments to the gas supply priority, alongside addressing arrears in wheat subsidy schemes.
According to Ministry of Finance announcement issued on 11 September 2024, the ECC meeting saw participation from an extensive lineup of ministers and senior officials including the Minister for Economic Affairs, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Power, and other key personnel. The agenda covered a broad range of topics critical to economic and administrative reforms.
A focal point of the committee’s deliberations was the Kalkatak-Chitral 48 km (Section-III) Road Project (N-45), where the ECC authorized the Ministry of Communications and the National Highway Authority to commence procurement of civil works as stipulated by Public Procurement Rule-5. This decision aims to enhance transportation infrastructure in a key area of the country.
The ECC also addressed financial issues related to agricultural subsidies. It approved a proposal from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFSR) to allocate Rs. 238.42 million for clearing pending arrears from the wheat subsidy schemes of 2015-16. This decision followed recommendations from the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, directing the Ministry to manage the funds through existing budgetary allocations.
Additionally, the ECC considered a financial aid request for the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC), deliberating a loan of Rs. 656 million to enable the organization to manage salaries and pensions. However, the committee decided against the loan, opting instead to consider winding up the entity, and instructed that a case be presented to the Cabinet Committee for Rightsizing of the Federal Government.
In the energy sector, the ECC approved a proposal from the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) to amend the gas supply priority order. The new amendment places industrial process use of gas in the highest priority category, on par with domestic and commercial uses, aiming to support industries dependent on gas for their operations.
These decisions reflect the ECC’s ongoing efforts to refine the country’s economic policies and infrastructure development to better serve the public and economic sectors.