ECC approves allocation of Rs. 10 billion to NDMA with direction to the Finance Division to immediately release Rs. 5 billion to NDMA
ISLAMABAD, Sep 21 (SABAH): Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Dr. Miftah Ismail virtually presided over the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday. Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Power Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmmod, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA/ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, Coordinator to the PM on Economy Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chairman NDMA, Chairman FBR, Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.
National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) presented a summary for allocation of funds for procurement and logistics of relief items for flood affectees and apprised about devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan. In order to provide immediate relief to the flood affectees, NDMA started procurement on emergency basis costing Rs. 2.4 billion. Due to colossal damages, the already procured items are not sufficient viz-a-viz relief requirement in the flood affected areas. Therefore, NDMA placed orders for procurement of more items at cumulative cost of Rs. 7.113 billion, which are being procured in emergency to provide relief to affectees. Previously, NDMA was allocated Rs. 8 billion for procurement and logistics cost of relief items to the flood affectees. The amount was insufficient as the cost of only procurement has surpassed Rs. 9.5 billion.
Besides procurement, NDMA is also undertaking logistics of all relief goods and materials provided by friendly countries. Foregoing in view, the ECC approved allocation of Rs. 10 billion to National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) with direction to the Finance Division to immediately release Rs. 5 billion to NDMA.
The ECC also considered a summary of Ministry of Commerce on clearance of stuck up consignments in light of office memorandum dated 22 July, 2022, 19 August, 2022 and 23 August, 2022 issued by Ministry of Commerce. The ECC approved the proposal and directed that the consignments of previously banned items that landed in Pakistan till 18th August, 2022 may be released at the rate of surcharge.
Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination presented a summary for exemption of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) from Custom Duty and Additional Custom Duty. The ECC after discussion directed Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to withdraw the summary and submit a fresh summary to rationalize price of paracetamol to ensure its availability. The summary presented by Ministry of National Food Security and Research regarding import of Wheat through Gwadar sea port was deferred by ECC.