ECC forms committee to oversee implementation of Ramazan Package
ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has constituted a four-member Committee headed by Railways Minister Sheikh Rasheed to oversee the implementation of Ramazan Package.
The ECC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday in Islamabad. The ECC meeting directed Utility Stores Corporation to expedite the procurement of essential food items to provide timely relief to the people in holy month of Ramazan.
On the occasion, Finance Minister Asad Umar has said that the government is determined to phase out the supplementary grants in the future budgets.
He said that the budgetary needs of many organizations had not been properly assessed at the time of preparation of budget estimate last year which was leading to a large number of demands for Supplementary Grants.
The minister emphasized the need for proper budgeting of the financial needs of various departments.
It was also told in the meeting that several Russian and Chinese companies are interested in Pakistan Steel Mills.
The final decision on the rehabilitation plan of Pakistan Steel Mills will be made in the next meeting of the EEC.
The ECC directed the Privatization and Industries Production to present a summary of the public-partnership plan during the next meeting.
The committee also approved the release of Rs 500 million for Torkham-Jalabad Highway.
The committee expressed its deep concerns over the increase in prices of medicines and food items. It directed the Ministries of Food Security and National Health Services to take practical steps to arrest the current trend of rise in prices.
The Petroleum Division briefed the ECC on the status of recoveries of Gas Infrastructure Development Cess for different industrial sections. The committee was informed about the litigation in different courts of law which had inhibited the collection of revenue during the recent years.
Petroleum Ministry briefed ECC
The Petroleum Ministry briefed the ECC on the implementation of the committee's decision regarding utilization of services of Pakistan Railways for transportation of petroleum products across the country. The Ministry of Railways informed the committee that it has the capacity to carry higher volumes and would work with the Ministry of Petroleum to explore further possibilities. The ECC approved, in principle, the proposal of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for media campaign aiming to disseminate information relating to initiatives on Poverty Alleviation, Sehat Insaaf Scheme, PM’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and others.Experts present plan for revival of Pakistan Steel Mills to ECC
Earlier, Asad Umar presided over a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC).
Experts presented to the committee a plan for the revival of Pakistan Steel Mills. It was also proposed to give Pakistan Steel Mills to a foreign company on a joint venture.
