ISLAMABAD, The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of Pakistan has approved a budget of five billion rupees for the Digital Information Infrastructure project, in a move to enhance the country’s digital capabilities.

According to Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the funding decision was made during an ECC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Dr. Shamshad Akhtar in Islamabad. The committee also approved a grant of 47.45 million rupees for the Interior Ministry and authorized the distribution of 20 billion rupees from the Punjab Finance Department to the Federal Government Account for the Green Corporative Initiative.

In addition, the ECC extended the government’s guarantee ceiling of 100 billion rupees in favor of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) until the end of next month. Following a proposal from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the committee revised lighthouse dues from seven rupees to 20 rupees per Net Registered Tonnage (NRT).

Addressing another summary from the Ministry of Poverty Alleviation, the ECC directed the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) to assess the cases of 8,000 daily wage workers employed at the Chaman border. The objective is to determine their eligibility for support under BISP’s system, in coordination with the Government of Balochistan.

The ECC also made decisions regarding the Uniform Quarterly Tariff Adjustments for K-Electric Consumers. It was resolved that the tariff rationalization guidelines issued to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) would be applicable for the consumption of electricity in July, August, and September 2023. These charges are set to be recovered from K-Electric consumers in December 2023, January 2024, and February 2024.