The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs) totaling over Rs. 7 billion for the Defence Division and other key initiatives. The approvals were part of a broader review of proposals submitted by various ministries and divisions covering policy, administrative, and developmental matters.
For the Defence Division, the ECC approved a Rs. 2 billion TSG for the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) in Punjab for the current financial year. Additionally, a TSG of Rs. 5.081 billion was sanctioned for defence services, aimed at capacity enhancement, infrastructure development, community engagement, and cybersecurity. The funds are to be released in phases, with recurring expenditures to be incorporated into the regular defence budget from the next fiscal year.
The Committee also approved a Rs. 322.87 million TSG for the Directorate General of Special Education to acquire 15 coasters for transporting special children enrolled at the Autism Centre of Excellence in Islamabad, which is expected to serve at least 300 children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
Under the Information Technology and Telecommunication Division, the ECC sanctioned Rs. 800 million for establishing the Asan Khidmat Centre in Islamabad as a flagship citizen-centric public service initiative. An additional Rs. 3.7 billion was approved for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects focused on digital connectivity, IT infrastructure, e-governance, and development of the national ICT ecosystem.
The ECC also considered a proposal for Digital Enforcement Stations by the Federal Board of Revenue along the Indus, Hub, and Balochistan rivers. Out of a proposed Rs. 10 billion, Rs. 3 billion was approved for the third quarter, with the remainder to be allocated in the fourth quarter.
Regarding the Asia Petroleum Limited (APL) Pipeline, the ECC formed a committee including representatives from the Petroleum, Finance, Law and Justice Divisions, the Special Investment Facilitation Council, and Pakistan State Oil. The committee is tasked with negotiating the Implementation Agreement and Guarantee Agreement with APL, determining pipeline ownership, and exploring alternative uses by 31 January.
For the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ECC approved Rs. 700 million of a requested Rs. 1 billion for the Film and Drama Finance Fund, under the National Film and Broadcasting Policy, 2018. The fund aims to strengthen Pakistan’s film and drama industry and promote the country’s strategic narrative through high-quality content. The Ministry is required to submit six-monthly utilization reports based on defined key performance indicators.
The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers for Power, Petroleum (virtually), Investment, Commerce, Planning and Development, and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions, and regulatory bodies.
