ECC approves Passco wheat release, vaccine funding, urea subsidy and development grants

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved multiple measures aimed at stabilising wheat prices, supporting public health, and advancing infrastructure and energy projects.

The committee cleared the disposal of 500,000 metric tons of Passco wheat through competitive bidding to manage surplus stocks, reduce storage costs, and stabilise domestic wheat prices. In addition, 300,000 metric tons of Passco wheat will be provided to the Food and Consumer Protection Department of Punjab to ensure adequate supplies for flour mills and uninterrupted availability of wheat flour.

The ECC meeting was held at the Finance Division under the chairmanship of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, with Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, and senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies in attendance.

On public health, the committee approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs29.663 billion for the Federal Directorate of Immunization under the Ministry of National Health Services. The funds will ensure uninterrupted procurement of vaccines and syringes under the Expanded Programme on Immunization, sustain routine immunisation coverage, prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, and meet Pakistan’s international commitments.

The ECC also approved a 50:50 federal-provincial subsidy on imported urea, with a TSG of Rs23.42 billion. Of this, Rs15 billion will be released by the Finance Division, with the remainder subject to fiscal space.

In infrastructure, a TSG of Rs1.9 billion was approved for the Ministry of Housing and Works under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme. The funds will support development schemes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited, aiming to accelerate infrastructure development and improve service delivery.

The committee further approved a TSG of Rs150 million for Cadet College Hasan Abdal under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to meet operational and development requirements.

Finally, the ECC sanctioned the distribution of confiscated solar panels by the Federal Board of Revenue to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, including transportation and distribution arrangements, to address electricity shortages, promote renewable energy, and support public service facilities.