The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved a summary, tabled by the Ministry of Food Security & Research to seek the award of the fifth international wheat tender for importing 550,000 MT (after matching process) of wheat for the FY 2021-22.
The ECC meeting was held with Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin in the chair on Thursday.
The Committee also approved a tender for the import of 100,000 metric tons of urea during the Rabi season of FY 2021-22 for building strategic reserves.
The Ministry of Industries and Production tabled a summary before ECC for the continuation of the Prime Minister’s relief package-2020 for provision of five essential items, which are to expire on September 30, 2021, on subsidized rates.
The ECC granted an extension for one month with a direction to present a detailed summary while keeping in view the international rise in prices of essential food commodities.
The ECC also approved the summary presented by the Ministry of Interior for Technical Supplementary Grant amounting to Rs.83.3 million for procuring services from the National Database & Registration Authority (NADRA) regarding the project for automation of Power of Attorney for Overseas Pakistanis. The ECC accorded approval with a direction that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Interior would hold a joint consultative session to work out modalities in this regard.
On a summary moved by the Power Division on quarterly tariff adjustments of K-Electric, the ECC decided that the Power Division would approach NEPRA to review its earlier decision on the issue and present an updated summary before the Committee for consideration.
The Power Division tabled another summary about the levy of Sales Tax on subsidy granted by the federal government to DISCOs. After seeking input from all concerned, the ECC decided that the matter would be referred to the Law Division for its opinion and a legal interpretation would be presented before the Committee for further deliberations.
The ECC approved a summary, presented by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunications, regarding revised budget estimates for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 respectively.
Meanwhile, the ECC approved a summary by the Power Division seeking approval of payment mechanisms for TNB Liberty Power Limited. The ECC approved the proposal as part of the settlement with other relevant IPPs.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, Federal Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Minister of State for Information Farrukh Habib, Chairman Federal Board of Revenue Dr. Muhammad Ashfaq Ahmed, Federal Secretaries, and other senior officers.
