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ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, on Tuesday approved multiple economic measures, including relief for flood-affected families in Gilgit-Baltistan and key settlements in the energy sector.
The meeting was attended by Power Minister Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, National Food Security Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, SAPM on Industries Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with federal secretaries, regulators, and senior officials of concerned ministries.
The ECC approved a Rs 3 billion relief package for Gilgit-Baltistan to provide tents, food, medicines, and other essential supplies to flood victims, besides supporting reconstruction and early recovery. The package follows Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s recent visit to the affected region.
On a summary from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, the ECC sanctioned Rs 3.813 billion for Pakistan Television Corporation (PTVC) to meet salary, pension, and operational expenses. The Committee stressed the need for PTV to gradually reduce dependence on federal budgetary support and move towards self-sustainability.
The Committee also cleared a settlement framework for the recovery of long-pending petroleum levy dues from Cnergyico PK Limited (CPL), amounting to billions of rupees, defaulted on since 2019. The Petroleum Division has been authorized to sign a deed of settlement with CPL to ensure recovery of the principal amount in line with the SIFC Apex Committee’s decisions.
In the power sector, the ECC approved a mechanism to transfer the benefit of the levy collected from captive power consumers to the national electricity grid consumers, offering some relief on transmission levy charges.
The Committee further gave approval for the tariff determination of the Machike–Thallian–Tarrujabba White Oil Pipeline project, being developed with Azerbaijan. The Finance Ministry said the project will strengthen bilateral trade and investment ties while enhancing Pakistan’s energy supply chain.
