The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet on Monday approved a supplementary grant of Rs. 6.6 billion to procure 30 bulletproof vehicles for the next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Islamabad, as well as allowing the continuation of gas supply to two Punjab-based fertilizer plants.
Chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the ECC meeting was requested by the Cabinet Division to approve a supplementary grant of Rs. 12.6 billion to purchase around 50 bulletproof vehicles for SCO summit. After detailed deliberations, the ECC approved a Rs. 6.6 billion for 30 bulletproof vehicles and assured the Cabinet Division it could review any additional requirements after analysis.
During the meeting, the ECC took up a summary of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research on Minimum Indicative Prices for the tobacco crop and the revision of cess rates for 2026-27. However, it said the proposal required further justification and deferred the agenda until the ministry resubmits its proposal.
Additionally, the ECC approved the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone, along with the required safeguards, at the request of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. It also approved a request from the ministry to continue gas supply to Fatima Fertilizer and Agritech until Sept. 30 under the existing arrangement to ensure fertilizer production amidst a dearth in LNG supplies due to the Iran-U.S. war.
The cabinet body also took up a request by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, approving a Rs. 5 billion supplementary grant as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund. It further reviewed progress of the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond and set Sept. 30 as the deadline for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to share substantive progress against the initiative, for which the Government of Pakistan guarantee was extended.