ECC approves Rs1 crore for parliamentarians’ meals during budget session

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs1 crore for the Parliamentary Affairs Division to cover lunch, dinner, and tea expenses for parliamentarians during the ongoing budget session, sources said.

According to sources, the Parliamentary Affairs Division approached the Ministry of Finance on June 9 seeking additional funds for hospitality arrangements related to the budget session. Following the request, the Finance Ministry approved the release of Rs1 crore for the financial year 2025-26.

The approval comes despite the government’s austerity policy, which imposes a complete ban on official dinners except those hosted for foreign delegations. Sources said the ECC granted a one-time relaxation to facilitate catering arrangements for lawmakers during the current parliamentary session.

Officials said the Parliamentary Affairs Division had initially sought an exemption from the austerity restrictions on June 5. The request was subsequently reviewed by the Monitoring Committee on Fuel Conservation and Austerity Measures, which endorsed the proposal during its meeting on June 9.

Sources added that the committee viewed the Parliamentary Affairs Division’s position positively and supported the request, paving the way for ECC approval.

The decision has drawn attention as the government continues to emphasize fiscal discipline and expenditure controls under its broader austerity measures. However, officials maintain that the relaxation is limited to the ongoing budget session and does not alter the overall restrictions on official hospitality expenditures.