ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a supplementary grant, amounting Rs1.79 billion, for temporarily dislocated persons (TDPs) from North Waziristan in the wake of Operation Zarb-e-Azb.
The ECC meeting was held under the chair of Finance Minister Asad Umar on Wednesday. The forum deliberated upon various proposals, including one from the Ministry of Safron with regard to TDPs.
Meanwhile, the committee was briefed by the Water Resource Division on the proposed arrangement for settling the issues pertaining to electricity tariff and water charges with Azad Jammu Kashmir.
The Water Resource Division secretary stated that a detailed arrangement covering all aspects of the issue had been worked out in consultation with the government of AJK. Under the new arrangement, he added, AJK would be given a dispensation similar to the provinces.
Endorsing the proposal, the committee noted that the arrangement, where AJK would set up its own power distribution company and would receive water usage charges at the enhanced rate of Rs1.10 per kwh, was based on the principle of equality.
In order to meet the expenses of Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), the committee approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs202,637 million, while a grant of Rs12.4 million was approved for Pakistan Chairs Abroad.
Similarly, the ECC approved a supplementary grant of Rs156 million for the Ministry of Health Services, Regulation and Coordination and Rs41.6 million for the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development.
It also approved the demand of the Cabinet Division to release a technical supplementary grant of Rs14.84 billion.
The Ministry of Science and Technology briefed the committee on the status of Pakistan Hilal Authority. The committee directed that Advisor to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain should place the authority under the most relevant ministry.
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research briefed the committee on the implementation status of decisions taken by the ECC last month with regard to improvement of the cotton crop in the country.
The committee also accorded approval to the proposal of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to extend the export period of surplus wheat from PASSCO’s stock. The committee also approved the proposal of Ministry of Industries and Production to allocate 66MMFCD additional Mari deep gas to Private Power Infrastructure Board (PPIB) for power generation purposes.
