ISLAMABAD (MNN); The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday approved a series of supplementary grants and financial measures, including over Rs3.29 billion for defence-related initiatives, Rs52 billion for the power sector, and Rs4.2 billion for the families of martyred Civil Armed Forces personnel.
The ECC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division.
A significant portion of the approvals related to defence and national security. The committee approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs1.289 billion for expenses associated with Independence Day celebrations and the Marka-e-Haq commemorations in 2025.
The ECC also approved another Rs2 billion TSG for the construction of the Marka-e-Haq Monument in Islamabad. The project will be executed by the Frontier Works Organization (FWO), bringing total defence-related approvals to Rs3.289 billion.
In another security-related decision, the committee approved Rs250 million for Frontier Corps Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (North) to strengthen operational preparedness and enhance security capabilities in the region.
The ECC further approved Rs4.2 billion to clear outstanding dues owed to the families of martyred personnel of the Civil Armed Forces. The amount will be met through available savings during the current fiscal year, while any remaining requirements will be accommodated in the next financial year.
The committee also approved Rs193.2 million for the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) to meet employee-related expenditures.
Among the largest financial decisions of the meeting, the ECC approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs52 billion for the Central Power Purchasing Agency-Guarantee (CPPA-G) as government equity support for power distribution companies (DISCOs).
Additionally, the committee approved the reallocation of Rs97.649 billion from K-Electric’s allocation to the Inter-DISCO Tariff Differential Subsidy and sanctioned the adjustment of TESCO tariff differential subsidy arrears amounting to Rs44.198 billion.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication secured approval for a Rs4.5 billion Technical Supplementary Grant to complete Phase-II of the Pakistan Asan Khidmat Centre project in Islamabad. The ECC also approved the reallocation of Rs911.2 million in savings to the Smart Islamabad Initiative.
The committee approved Rs312.3 million for implementing the incentive package for Pakistan Administrative Service (PAS) and Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) officers serving in Balochistan.
It also endorsed the discontinuation of the Telegraphic Transfer Charges Incentive Scheme (TTCIS) with effect from July 1, 2026.
For infrastructure and development projects, the ECC approved the transfer of Rs793.7 million under a Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) scheme for District Shangla to facilitate the timely execution of development initiatives.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs received approval for a Rs600 million grant as the federal government’s contribution toward installing a Vessel Monitoring System in fishing boats across Pakistan.
The ECC also approved the release of salary payments for employees of Pakistan Steel Mills from already allocated budgetary resources for the fiscal year 2025-26 to ensure continuity of employee payments.
In support of the transport sector, the committee approved an additional Rs7 billion grant-in-aid for Pakistan Railways.
The committee further approved Rs22.4 million for the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) to ensure uninterrupted operations and administrative functioning.
The Prime Minister’s Inspection Commission was granted Rs8.216 million to meet employee-related expenditures.
Separately, the ECC approved an extension in the validity of sovereign guarantees backing a Rs50 billion financing facility obtained by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) from Meezan Bank until June 30, 2027.
The meeting was attended by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Investment Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with senior government officials.