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Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Ministries & Divs: ECC clears TSG summaries
ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet was held on Monday under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb. The ECC took up a number of summaries from various ministries and divisions seeking Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs) besides some other crucial matters brought to the Cabinet body. For the summaries submitted for grant of TSGs, the ECC considered and decided the following: Rs. 1.259 billion TSG for Ministry of Finance to return the amount to the Government of Sindh as un-utilized funds from wheat seed cash reimbursement programme. Rs. 5.6 billion TSG for the Ministry of Finance as rupee cover for ADB funded Women Inclusive Finance (WIF) project Rs. 231.893 million TSG for Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control to meet the additional funds requirement of civil armed forces Rs. 64 million TSG for Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control on account of staff transferred to CDA from the Pak. PWD Rs. 50 million TSG for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to support PILDAT for promotion of democracy by focusing on governance and public policy. Rs. 90 million TSG for Petroleum Division for execution of gas schemes in the province of Punjab. Rs. 100 million TSG for Ministry of Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety as grant-in-aid to release the funds to SOS Children's Villages Pakistan. Rs. 1.889 billion TSG for Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for clearing advertising liabilities and other expenditures Rs. 2.150 billion TSG for Ministry of Housing and Works for onward transfer to Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited for execution of development schemes of District Swabi. Rs. 1.70 billion TSG for Ministry of Defence for technological upgradation of ISPR. Rs. 400 million TSG for Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control for development expenditure under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). Rs. 40.34 billion TSG for Economic Affairs Division on account of revised budget estimates for FY2024-25 for repayment of short-term foreign loan credits. Rs. 2.232 million TSG for Ministry of Law and Justice for reimbursement of funds to CDA in respect of project covering establishment of district courts in Islamabad. Rs. 2.750 million for Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for the Prime Minister's Youth Skill Development Programme. Rs. 750 million TSG for Power Division for development expenditure. Rs. 1.2 billion TSG for Ministry of Interior for arrangement of 23rd meeting of the Council of the Heads of State of the Shanghai Corporation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad. Rs. 14 million TSG for Ministry of Kashmir Affairs &Gilgit Baltistan for employees related expenditure. Rs. 294 million TSG for Ministry of Finance for merged Ministry of KAGB and SAFRON. The ECC also took up and approved a summary by Power Division for approval of a tripartite power purchase agreement of 1145 MG Karachi Nuclear Plant Unit-2 (K-2) and Unit-3 (K-3) at Karachi. On a summary of the Petroleum Division regarding the Machike-Thallian - Tarrujabba White Oil Pipeline, the ECC accorded full backing to the project but deferred the matter until the next ECC meeting for detailed working by the Finance, Planning and Petroleum Divisions on the financial and operational modalities of the proposal. The ECC also considered a summary by the Ministry of Commerce and approved amendment in import policy order (IPO) for state-owned defence production entities and their wholly owned commercial subsidiaries. The ECC discussed and approved a proposal by the Finance Division for establishment of 'Women Inclusive Finance Support Fund' Trust under the Asian Development Bank funded women inclusive finance project. The ECC also considered a summary by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research seeking notification of minimum indicative prices of tobacco crop (2025) and revision of cess rates on tobacco for the year 2025-26. The cabinet body discussed the matter and approved the proposal with the instruction to the Ministry to come up with a plan to do away with the existing regime in future in line with the government policy of promoting deregulation in the crop sector. The ECC also considered and approved a summary by the Ministry of Housing and Works for withdrawal of directives transfer Hyderabad Package (PSDP#223) and Karachi (PSDEP#222) from the Government of Sindh to PIDCL. The Cabinet body also considered and approved a summary by the Finance Division, outlining the policy for the grant of honourarium to the government employees. The meeting was attended by Minister for Power SardarAwais Ahmed Khan Leghari, Minister for Investment Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, Chairman SECP along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
Dar for meeting SAP uplift targets in timely manner
ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar chaired the 46th Steering Committee meeting of the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). The meeting was attended by key stakeholders, including federal ministers for Inter-provincial Coordination, Planning and Development, Power, Parliamentary Affairs, SAPM Tariq Bajwa; federal secretaries; Members of the National Assembly, and representatives of provincial governments. The meeting focused on reviewing the utilisation of savings and available funds with executing agencies, and streamlining implementation to ensure timely completion of ongoing schemes. 'Resources utilized in best interest of citizens' The DPM/FM emphasised the importance of fully utilising the allocated resources before the close of the current financial year, underscoring the need to deliver results within the stipulated timelines. He directed all stakeholders to expedite efforts to ensure timely development targets. The DPM/FM noted the government's resolve to aligning development efforts with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), for inclusive and meaningful progress that reflects the development priorities of the nation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel disapproves PWD closure sans transition plan
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the dissolution of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) without a transition framework, which has caused operational confusion about the development projects. The standing committee recommended formulating clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a centralised oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and continuity for development projects. The committee met with Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani in the chair at the Parliament house on Monday. NA panel urges PM to reconsider PWD closure The members reviewed implementation of previous recommendations, examined sub-committee findings, and assessed progress on development initiatives under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). A detailed report was presented by the sub-committee led by Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani, MNA, on the status of projects transferred to the provinces in the wake of PWD dissolution. The report, based on four meetings, outlined inter-ministerial coordination efforts and challenges in implementing Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) schemes, especially where federal funding is executed through provincial bodies. The committee expressed concern over persistent execution issues, including re-tendering delays in Punjab, contractor litigation, and limited capacity within Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Members also noted delays in third-party verifications and pending payments. To address these, the sub-committee was reconstituted with Zulfiqar Bachani, Malik Sohail Khan, and Muhammad Ameer Sultan joining as members under the convenership of Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani. The Ministry of Finance clarified that the PSDP fund disbursements are made based on provincial requisitions, with no discrimination. Funds of the merged districts under the Accelerated Implementation Plan has been released. Members were informed that new national projects will be finalized by 31st May, with several PC-1s already submitted for inclusion in the PSDP. Members emphasised timely consultation on these projects to reflect public priorities. Members were also briefed on the Roche project, funded over five years to provide free cancer medication. The initial phase will be implemented at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with expansion planned in later stages. Concerns were raised over the lack of clean drinking water in Multan and underfunding of Nishtar Hospital-II. The committee stressed immediate attention to essential health and water services as fundamental rights. The NHA updated the committee on the M6 Motorway (Sukkur–Hydera-bad), a Rs450 billion project divided into five sections. Feasibility for the Hyder-abad–Karachi link is underway. The committee discussed proceeding under a Public-Private Partnership model versus awaiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) support. Progress on partnership proposals, including one with Azerbaijan, remains limited. The committee deferred the Uraan Pakistan project and recommended inclusion of the National Highways Authority (NHA) in the next meeting. Additionally, the committee, unanimously, approved PSDP projects for the Frontier Constabulary for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting concluded with a call for unified oversight, improved federal-provincial coordination, and equitable resource distribution to ensure timely delivery of national development priorities. Attendees included Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal, Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani, Naz Baloch, Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan, Farhan Chishti, Akhtar Bibi, Dawar Khan Kundi, Malik Sohail Khan, Ali Asghar Khan, Iqbal Zehri, and Muhammad Ameer Sultan, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, Finance Division, NHA, and Ministry of Interior. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
