ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Monday approved supplementary grants amounting Rs10 billion including Rs2 billion to fight fake information against state institutions, the finance ministry officials said.
During the meeting, the ECC of the cabinet approved eight additional grants including a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs1.945 billion to the Ministry of Defense.
The ECC meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, was also attended by Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Minister for Power Sardar Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Finance Ali Parvez Malika, and federal government officials.
According to the sources, the military had asked for nearly Rs2 billion in upfront one-time costs and a recurring budget of Rs1.6 billion annually to further beef up their systems.
The ECC allocated Rs2 billion to counter misinformation targeting state institutions, with Rs1.22 billion earmarked for technology upgrades and Rs723 million for cybersecurity enhancements by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR).
Apart from approving additional funding, the committee also approved the proposal seeking a ban on the import of ozone-depleting insulation and foaming materials — polyol blended with HCFC-141b and HCFC-142b.
The ECC approved the ban, effective from the end of January 2025.
Supplementary grants
ECC also reviewed the Ministry of Information’s proposal to clear outstanding liabilities for the “Korean Culture Week” event and the 23rd Shanghai Cooperation Organization’s (SCO) Council of Heads of Government (CHG) meeting held in 2024.
Considering the request, the ECC approved the reallocation of Rs. 120.822 million as a technical supplementary grant.
Furthermore, the committee also approved the request of an Interior Ministry for a supplementary grant of Rs650.357 million to cover security arrangements and maintain law and order during the SCO Summit last year, repair safe city cameras damaged during violent protests, and address other law enforcement needs.
The economic coordination committee approved a proposal from the Ministry of Information for an additional Rs2.5 billion budget to facilitate the execution of 15 projects under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) during the current fiscal year.
The ECC considered and approved Rs. 5.276 million for the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW), which involves the reallocation of funds from the Ministry of Human Rights (MoHR).
The funds would be purportedly used for women empowerment and gender equality.
The meeting also approved the technical supplementary grant of Rs1.5 billion for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The funding is intended to increase the salaries of faculty members under the Tenure Track System, which has not been revised since 2021, the statement of the Finance Ministry read.
Additionally, the ECC approved $6.170 million (approximately Rs1.72 billion) with M/s Huawei Technologies Company Limited for the Ministry of Interior to settle outstanding liabilities.
This payment is to clear the remaining 5% of the contract cost for the Safe City Project Islamabad, as directed by the Islamabad High Court.
Furthermore, the ECC also reviewed a request from the Ministry of Industries and Production to continue the Prime Minister’s Relief Package through the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) in the fiscal year 2024-25.
The ECC approved Rs1.679 billion to cover expenses incurred by USC between June 30 and August 18, 2024, on the condition that the subsidy was budgeted for this year, and no further expenditures would be carried beyond this period, the statement read.