ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), which is scheduled to hold a meeting tomorrow (Tuesday), is likely to approve the creation of a digital media wing in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
According to sources, the ECC meeting, to be chaired by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, would take up an eight-point agenda in the upcoming meeting.
Sharing the details of the ECC agenda, sources said besides giving approval to a digital media wing in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ECC is also likely to take a decision on an Interior Ministry summary regarding a technical supplementary grant for payment of compensation to the victims of a suicide attack at District Courts F-8. Islamabad. The attack happened on 3rd March 2014.
Sources further informed that the ECC is expected to approve a hike in gas prices for the financial year 2019-20. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) had earlier proposed a 214pc hike in gas prices. The ECC had postponed the approved hike in gas prices during the last meeting.
As per sources, the ECC would also take up an interior ministry’s summary regarding the transfer of funds to the Ministry of Defence as technical support grant (logistical support) for the maintenance of Cessna aircraft. Similarly, ECC is likely to approve 8pc exemption on minimum income tax for National Telecommunication Corporation.
Sources said a summary of the Earthquake Reconstruction Authority would also be tabled in the meeting to seek approval for the conversion of loan into grant in the name of Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir being the beneficiary of the loan.
According to sources, a presentation prepared by National Food Security and Research on ‘the comprehensive policy for the enhancement of cotton production in the country’ would also be tabled in the meeting.
They said the Commerce Division would seek an amendment in SRO l92(l)/2019 dated 11-02-2019, extending regulatory duty exemption to the export-oriented units.
