Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Abdul Hafeez Shaikh on Wednesday chaired a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to discuss a 10-point agenda.
During the meeting in Islamabad, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had given the approval to end five per cent regulatory duty on cotton imports after mulling over recommendations to encourage its imports for bringing raw cotton.
Agencies add: The committee approved gas supply to Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). It has also approved for initiating gas supply from Benari field to Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).
A suggestion was tabled in the ECC meeting to constitute a committee for waiving off loans of the national highway. A summary for repair work of Islamabad High Court (IHC) building was approved by the ECC members, sources added.
ECC is also likely to approve Karachi transformation plan announced by Prime Minister Imran Khan in September for the execution of a transformation plan meant to address the city’s issues and developmental requirements. In the previous meeting, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) had approved a technical supplementary grant for the advance purchases of COVID-19 vaccines.
The ECC members had deliberated upon the six-month extension of payment of interest on loans acquired from G20 countries and the matter related to gas supply to Engro Fertilizers. The committee’s members approved gas supplies to Engro Fertilizers.
Moreover, the committee had granted permission to Punjab province for importing 340,000 tonnes wheat through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
The committee had allocated funds for the payment of salaries of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) workers; a technical supplementary grant worth Rs500 million for education ministry; approval of Rs683.3 million budget for National Information Technology Board (NITB).
