ECC to approve Rs200b package for daily wagers on Wednesday

Committee will review nine-point agenda with finance adviser Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to provide financial assistance of Rs200 billion under the Prime Minister Relief Package to the daily wagers to help them survive during the coronavirus-induced lockdown.

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet will meet tomorrow (Wednesday) to review the nine-point agenda, including the Rs200 billion relief package for the daily wagers.

The ECC meeting will be chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh.

According to the copy of the ECC agenda available with The Express Tribune, it is expected that an initial amount of Rs150 million as grant in aid/seed money would be approved for the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority, technical supplementary grant of Rs606 million for Balochistan government’s 19 projects during the current financial year and another technical supplementary grant worth Rs7 million within sanctioned budget for purchase of spare parts for helicopter maintenance by Frontier Corps Headquarters, Quetta during the current fiscal year.



The meeting will also consider giving approval to EOBI's budget proposal for the current fiscal year 2019-20 and revised budget estimate of the preceding year 2018-19.

A presentation on the Competition Commission of Pakistan would also be given. It is also expected in the ECC meeting that the Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem restoration services project would be given exemption from the relending policy.

The meeting would also give approval to pursuing a case filed in the Sindh High Court on August 16, 2018 by Syed Umar Baqi and 842 others against the federal government and others.

The meeting will also review the summary regarding freeing containers of Pakistan Shipping Corporation stuck in South Africa. The ships have been confiscated on account of alleged claims of Coniston Ltd against the Pakistan Steel Mills.