The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet on Friday approved around Rs. 40 billion in supplementary grants, as well as expanding the number of ministries and departments whose employees will receive up to six months in additional salaries for their role in helping prepare the federal budget.
In a statement issued after the meeting chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the Finance Ministry said the ECC had approved a summary submitted by the Cabinet Division for Rs. 7,026.3 million through Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) for the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Program. The grant aims to facilitate continuity of development projects, prevent cost escalations, and assure timely achievement of program objectives.
The ECC also approved a summary submitted by the Ministry of Defense for a grant of Rs. 10.15 billion for the Hangor Project of Pakistan Navy under the Rafale Aircraft and Force Development Package 2030.
Approval was additionally granted to seven summaries submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control. Of these, Rs. 692.9 million was for security arrangements for the Islamabad Peace Talks; Rs. 241 million for compensation of suicide blast victims of the Imam Bargah at Taralai; Rs. 528 million for operational requirements of the Pakistan Land Ports Authority; Rs. 800 million for procurement of Fast Patrol Boats and associated infrastructure for Pakistan Coast Guards; Rs. 1,883.7 million for expansion of Islamabad’s Safe City project; Rs. 150 million for operational requirements of the National Counter Terrorism Authority; and Rs. 413.9 million for security of the Reko Diq Project.
The ECC also approved a summary of the Information Ministry, releasing Rs. 733 million to meet salary requirements of the Pakistan Television Corporation for June 2026.
According to the statement, the ECC approved a summary submitted by the I.T. Ministry for Rs. 183.5 million to the Special Communication Organization to install telecom sites and telephone towers in Shigar, Gilgit-Baltistan, improving connectivity and mobile coverage in remote areas.
Another approved TSG was Rs. 119.9 million for the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs to meet employee-related expenditures arising from revised salaries and allowances of parliamentary Secretaries during FY26.
Two summaries approved by the Ministry of Housing and Works comprised Rs. 8,758.9 million for the Karachi and Hyderabad Urban Infrastructure Development Packages and Rs. 2,840 million for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The ECC approved three summaries submitted by the Finance Division, including a TSG of Rs. 1.3 billion for the PSDP project “Modernization and Upgradation of Pakistan Mint (Phase-II-A)” and a TSG of Rs. 4.377 billion to support current expenditure requirements and priority initiatives in Gilgit-Baltistan. The third approval was for a policy to grant Budget Honorarium for the ministries of Commerce, Law and Justice, and the Office of Accountant General Pakistan Revenues in support of their contributions to the federal budget formulation process.
The committee also approved the Budget Estimates of IPO-Pakistan for FY26 submitted by the Ministry of Commerce, comprising regular expenditure of Rs. 914.7 million and projected revenue receipts of Rs. 918 million. It further approved a summary of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs regarding operational continuity of Engro Vopak Terminal Limited.
The ECC approved two summaries submitted by the Petroleum Division, including continuation of syndicated running finance facilities for Pakistan State Oil with a ceiling of Rs. 100 billion and the revised framework relating to the Deed of Settlement with Cnergyico PK Limited under the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy, 2023. The revised framework aims to resolve the Late Payment Surcharge issue and support refinery upgradation and investment.
In addition to the regular agenda items, the Committee approved a TSG of Rs. 29.9 million, submitted by the Economic Affairs Division, to meet rental payment obligations for residential accommodation of entitled officers and officials. The ECC also approved a summary submitted by the Ministry of Interior and Narcotics Control for provision of a TSG amounting to Rs. 30 million for extension and upgradation of Jamia Masjid at Parliament House, Islamabad.