Pakistan’s ECC to review election funding, grants and economic measures
The ECC will review election funding for the ECP, plus grants and economic proposals, at a Thursday meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb
Haris Zamir
Business Editor
Experience of almost 33 years where started the journey of financial journalism from Business Recorder in 1992. From 2006 onwards attached with Television Media worked at Sun Tv, Dawn Tv, Geo Tv and Dunya Tv. During the period also worked as a stringer for Bloomberg for seven years and Dow Jones for five years. Also wrote articles for several highly acclaimed periodicals like the Newsline, Pakistan Gulf Economist and Money Matters (The News publications)
File photo of an ECC meeting.
Pakistan's Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) will meet on Thursday under Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb to consider a 16-point agenda covering election funding, government grants, development projects and economic proposals.
What election funding will the ECC consider?
The ECC is expected to review funding requests from the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) for upcoming by-elections and district-level elections. It will also consider reallocating and revalidating funds for local government elections, plus a separate request to finance election-related equipment for polls in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and cantonment boards.
The committee is also expected to review a proposal from the Interior and Narcotics Control divisions seeking funds for public buildings.
Which grants will the ECC review for ministries and institutions?
The ECC is expected to consider a technical supplementary grant for the Ministry of Climate Change for fiscal year 2026-27. It will also review funding requirements for implementing the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority's (SMEDA) business plan and the closure process of the Utility Stores Corporation.
Other proposals on the agenda include a PKR934.4 million grant for the Pakistan Sports Endowment Fund and a PKR8 billion technical supplementary grant for the Public-Private Partnership Authority. The committee will also consider a PKR1.666 billion grant to support the training of 1,000 agricultural experts in China.
What energy, agriculture and customs proposals are on the ECC agenda?
The ECC will review a proposal seeking PKR10 billion in budgetary support for the Thar coal rail connectivity project. It will also consider the minimum support price for the 2026 tobacco crop and proposed changes to tobacco cess rates.
Another proposal involves recovering outstanding dues owed by provincial governments to the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) through deductions at source. The committee is also expected to discuss expanding risk coverage schemes for small businesses and farmers by including financial institutions.
A separate proposal seeks to broaden the scope of the Credit Guarantee Trust Fund beyond the Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar housing scheme. The ECC will also review proposed amendments to SRO 693 related to additional customs duties.
What other funding requests are on the ECC agenda?
The committee is expected to approve a technical supplementary grant for Pakistan Revenue Automation Limited (PRAL). A separate funding proposal from the Ministry of Interior is also included in the agenda.
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