ECC approves release of Rs75bn for labourers under PM’s relief package

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet Wednesday approved the release of Rs75 billion out of Rs200 billion from the Prime Minister’s Relief Package for targeted payments to the low-income groups, especially labourers and daily wagers, who have been severely affected by the lockdowns.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the ECC held chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

It was decided to disburse Rs 12,000 per selected person while using the Ehsaas disbursement mechanisms under “Mazdoor Ka Ehsaas Programme”.

For this purpose, a fourth category in addition to already existing three categories in “Ehsaas Kifalat” would be created and standard checks of the Ehsaas Programme would be applied for the identification of beneficiaries.

Earlier, the Committee was told that after usual filters and checks, up to six million low-income people were expected to benefit under the planned 4th category in addition to 12 million labours already targeted through category 1-3 of Kifalat.

“Mazdoor Ka Ehsaas Programme” aims much-needed support in the current situation to the low-income labour/daily wagers mostly involved in activities such as loaders, cleaning staff, contract employees, piece rate workers, self-employed street vendors, construction workers, painters, welders, mechanics, carenters, domestic help, drivers.

The ECC also asked the Ministry of Industries and Production (MoIP) and the Poverty Alleviation and Social Sector Development Division (PASSD) to jointly work out comprehensive mechanisms and modalities to ensure a transparent and efficient disbursement of the support to the deserving people.

During the meeting, the ECC on two separate proposals approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs606 million for 19 projects to be implemented by the Balochistan government for FY20 and another technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs7 million for the purchase of spare parts for helicopter maintenance by the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North).

The Committee also approved the release as government loan of Rs1.30 billion in FY20 and Rs3.85 billion per annum during the next three years for the settlement of outstanding liabilities of litigants in a case involving the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

On a proposal by the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the ECC approved notification of the Export Policy Order, 2020 and the Import Policy Order, 2020 in consolidated form as per the Law Division’s recommendations for the convenience of the business community.

The Committee also approved a proposal by the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis (MoOP) and HRD for approval of the budget proposal for the year 2019-20 and revised budget estimate for 2018-19 of EOBI.

The ECC, on a proposal by the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), approved exemption from the Re-lending Policy of the government in respect of a $188 million World Bank IDA for the Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem Restoration Services project.

The ECC also accorded principled approval to a proposal by the Ministry of National Health Services (MoHS) for the provision of Rs150 million funds as grant in aid/seed money for the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority. The ECC asked the Secretary Finance and Secretary Health to jointly to work out modalities for the arrangement of funds.

On another proposal by the MoIP seeking a supplementary grant of Rs288 million for the payment of salaries to the employees of the Pakistan Machine Tool Factory, the ECC asked the Finance Division and the Industries and Production Division to sit together and resolve the issue.

The ECC also considered a proposal by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs (MoMA) regarding the detention of Pakistan Nationa Shipping Corporation (PNSC) ships in South Africa on account of alleged claims of Coniston against the Pakistan Steel Mills, asking the Finance Secretary to engage with PNSC and PSM besides seeking opinion of the Law Division, if necessary, to resolve the issue.