The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet on Monday approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs. 75 billion on a summary of the Petroleum Division for the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.
Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the meeting reviewed the targeted relief for lower-income segments of society amidst rising global fuel prices.
Under the scheme, two- and three-wheelers are eligible for relief of Rs. 500/week, equivalent to 5 liters at Rs. 100/liter, while cars up to 800cc are eligible for relief of Rs. 1,000 for 10 days, based on 30 liters per month at Rs. 100/liter. The scheme is restricted to non-commercial users and limited to one vehicle per user/owner.
The Ministry of I.T. and Telecom would deploy and manage the Fuel Pass System for digital management and transparent delivery of the relief. The targeted and digitally managed mechanism aims to ensure the benefit reaches eligible consumers efficiently while strengthening transparency and accountability in implementation.
The ECC also considered a summary submitted by the Maritime Affairs Division regarding restructuring of Pakistan National Shipping Corporation ownership and management control. It approved the Implementation Framework as recommended by the Implementation Committee headed by the privatization minister.
The cabinet body reviewed and approved a summary submitted by the Petroleum Division regarding the Draft Upgrade Agreement under the Pakistan Oil Refining Policy for Upgradation of Existing/Brownfield Refineries, 2023, as amended in August 2026. The agreement provides the framework for implementation and monitoring of refinery upgradation projects and associated incentives, with a completion period of five years.
Another proposal of the Petroleum Division approved by the ECC regarded settlement of financial matters of Oil Marketing Companies, including compensation of unadjusted input sales tax claims for July 2025-June 2026 through the Inland Freight Equalization Margin. The arrangement provides an interim mechanism for settlement of claims, with due diligence and verification to be ensured by the relevant authority.
The ECC also considered a summary submitted by the Science and Technology Division seeking review of an earlier decision regarding standards and regulatory requirements for commercial imports of used vehicles. The cabinet body deferred the matter and directed that the recommendations of the committee constituted to review the EDB vehicle import inspection regime be obtained and the summary resubmitted accordingly.
Additionally, the ECC considered a summary submitted by the National Food Security and Research Division regarding permission for export of 200,000 metric tons of surplus sugar. It approved the recommendations of the Steering Committee on Sugar, including appropriate safeguards to maintain domestic price stability.
The ECC also considered a summary submitted by the Cabinet Division regarding provision of Rs. 3 billion through a technical supplementary grant for the purchase of 15 bulletproof sedan vehicles for use of VIPs during next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Council Summit in Islamabad. The vehicles were found necessary for foolproof security of Heads of State, with the ECC noting the importance of the event and emphasizing the need for timely and comprehensive preparations to ensure secure and appropriate transport arrangements. The high profile arrangements observed during the recent heads of state SCO Summit in Kyrgyzstan were also discussed and appreciated as worthy of emulation.