ECC meets today to review tax exemption on Covid-19 imports

The Economic Coordination Committee of the cabinet will meet on Wednesday (today) to review the exemption of taxes and duties on the import of medical equipment to treat Covid-19 patients.

It is also expected to approve the setting up of a policy committee to run the Ehsaas Donation Fund and the Ehsaas Koi Bhooka Na Soye programme.

The huddle's 20-point agenda includes the approval of a technical supplementary grant  to meet the shortfall of the Intelligence Bureau’s budget in the ongoing fiscal year.

The ECC meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin, will also give nod to technical supplementary grants for ministries of interior, information and broadcasting, industries and production, human rights, housing and works among others.

According to the ECC agenda available with The Express Tribune, a technical grant of over Rs740 million for the marketing campaign of a new incentive scheme for boosting remittances would be approved.

Read more: Need to turn Covid-related challenges into opportunity stressed

The housing and works ministry's request for more funds for the repair and maintenance of the Supreme Court building, the official residences of superior judiciary judges, their rest houses and sub-offices in various cities across the country will also be reviewed.

The huddle will also mull a technical grant of Rs20 million sought by the human rights ministry.

The technical grant summary sought by the industries and production ministry for a small- and medium-sized enterprise authority will also be considered.

Under the decisions made by the anti-smuggling steering committee, presided over by the prime minister, a technical grant to boost the capabilities of the Pakistan Coast Guards and civil armed forces will also be mulled.

The meeting will also review the provision of a technical supplementary grant to the Higher Education Commission for the rehabilitation scheme announced by the federal education ministry for the backward areas of the country.

The meeting will also consider a summary of the technical supplementary grant of Rs378 million for the federal education ministry.

The meeting will also mull four summaries of technical supplementary grants sought by the finance ministry.