ISLAMABAD
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved the re-targeting of the second phase of subsidies in the power sector. Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan chaired the ECC meeting on Thursday.
The ECC after deliberation approved the summary presented by Ministry of Energy on Re-targeting of Power Sector Subsidies – Phase–II, that included removal of one slab benefit (incremental block tariff) and incorporation of revised subsidy and inter-distribution companies tariff rationalization/cross subsidies.
The committee also recommended the summary tabled by the Finance Division for enhancement of Ways and Means Limit of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government from Rs27 billion to Rs31.3 billion due to the impact of wage bill of erstwhile FATA. The ECC discussed and approved the summary presented by the Ministry of Industries & Production for endorsement on the decision of the committee constituted by the ECC of the cabinet on scrapping of the tenders floated by TCP in respect of import of sugar.
The ECC also approved the summary tabled by the Ministry of Industries & Production on revised gas supply priority order to the fertilizer sector. The system gas supplies will be ensured to these plants during the current Rabi Session 2021-22 ensuring immediate availability of urea fertilizer and saving of foreign exchange in case of import of urea from abroad.
The ECC after deliberation approved the summary presented by the Ministry of Commerce on Textile and Apparel Policy 2020-25 with directions to incorporate inputs of FBR and Finance Division and meet the observations of Power Division.
After detailed discussion, ECC also approved the summary tabled by Ministry of AIDEP 2021-26, with the directions that export targets given in the policy may be reviewed every year and updated accordingly and proposed tariff structure to be presented separately to the ECC.
The ECC also approved the following technical supplementary grants: Rs2,650.968 million in favour of Ministry of Housing & Works for execution of development schemes in the province of Sindh and Balochistan under SAP; supplementary grant in favour of Ministry of Energy for payment of first instalment (40%) to IPPs of 2002 under payment mechanism; Rs2 billion for Ministry of Information & Broadcasting to launch comprehensive media campaign on the government initiatives, programmes and projects.
The ECC, after detailed discussion, deferred a summary tabled by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research for notification of minimum indicative price of tobacco crop 2022 with the directions that a committee may be formed to address the observations of stakeholders and present the proposal in the next meeting after detailed revision.
Earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance & Revenue Mr. Shaukat Tarin, presided over the meeting of Technical Advisory Sub-Committee. The TASC reviewed the summaries in detail and presented its recommendations to the ECC for its consideration.
The ECC meeting was attended by Adviser to the PM on Finance & Revenue Shaukat Tarin, Minister for Industries & Production Makhdum Khusro Bakhtyar, Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar, Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed, Minister for National Food Security & Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Adviser to the PM on Commerce & Investment Abdul Razak Dawood, Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting Farrukh Habib, Governor SBP, respective federal secretaries and other senior government officers. TLTP
