ECC gives nod to UEP providing gas to SSGC

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Friday approved a summary presented by the energy ministry (Petroleum Division) for the allocation of gas under commercial production from the United Energy Pakistan’s (UEP) fields to the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC).

The UEP will provide gas from Mitha and Bitro fields to the SSGC.
The ECC meeting, chaired by Federal Economic Affairs Minister Omar Ayub Khan, decided that the gas price would be applicable as per the petroleum policy to be decided by the relevant regulators.

The meeting also deliberated about the summary presented by the energy ministry (Power Division) on the mechanism for granting concessionary tariff to the zero-rated industrial consumers of Lasbela Industrial Estates Development Authority (LIEDA) and Sundar Industrial Estate (SIE).

The committee directed the authorities concerned to install double metres at zero-rated industrial consumers of LIEDA and SIE for verification of reading by the K-Electric and the Lahore Electric Supply Company (Lesco), respectively.

The ECC also directed that the subsidy claims might be processed on the basis of difference of readings.

The committee deferred a summary tabled by the industries and production ministry on the Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (AIDEP) 2021-26. It directed the ministry to present the summary at the next meeting after reviewing it.

The ECC also discussed a summary on the Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) Policy 2021-25 presented by the industries and production ministry. It directed the ministry to review the policy and discuss the observations raised by the stakeholders under the chairmanship of Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin.

The proposal would be presented to the cabinet after developing a consensus between the stakeholders.

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The meeting also approved the summaries of technical supplementary grants tabled by the defence and interior ministries.

The ECC gave the nod to the purchase of 175,000 metric tons of imported wheat by the UN’s World Food Programme (WFP) from the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation’s (PASSCO) stock for Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The wheat flour will compliment to the UN body’s food basket for distribution to the food vulnerable population in Pakistan and Afghanistan.

The summary was presented by the national food security and research ministry.

The meeting also approved a summary tabled by the Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety Division for he inclusion of beneficiaries of Ehsaas Kafalat Program with PMT score between 29.01 to 37 under the recent NSER survey in Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme.

These beneficiaries are proposed to be provided one-time emergency cash assistance of Rs12,000 each on a first-come-first-served basis. This support would help in mitigating the socioeconomic impact on poor and vulnerable segments of the society amid COVID-19 pandemic.

The ECC discussed and approved the proposal submitted by the energy ministry for an increase of OMCs and dealers’ margins for motor spirit and high-speed diesel with effect from forth coming revision in oil prices.

The meeting was attended by Finance Adviser Shaukat Tarin, Federal National Food Security and Research Minister Fakhar Imam, Federal Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar, Federal Industries and Production Minister Khusro Bakhtyar, Federal Energy Minister Hammad Azhar, Federal Privatisation Minister Mohammedmian Soomro, SAPM on Poverty Alleviation Dr Sania Nishtar, relevant federal secretaries and other senior officers.