ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved
the Ramzan package for utility stores. The price of food items at
utility stores will be decreased by Rs 4 to Rs 40 per kilo.
The
price of ghee was decreased by Rs 15 while flour was reduced by Rs 4
per kilo. In the Ramzan Package per kilo price of tea was reduced by Rs
40 and the price for lentils, dates, rice and grain flour was reduced
by Rs 10. The price for packet milk was decreased by Rs 5 per kilo.
The
Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet which met here Wednesday
with the Federal Minister for Finance and Economic Affairs, Dr. Abdul
Hafeez Shaikh in the chair had a detailed discussion on a number of
summaries including the Ramazan Package approved by the last ECC. The
summaries that were discussed in today’s meeting are “Subsidy on Sale
of Wheat in Gilgit Baltistan”. The ECC in principle agreed with the
request and formed a committee to devise the system by which the
subsidy can be made implemented and ensure that the proper locals may
get the benefit instead of stockers and hoarders.
The ECC’s
major business today has been the review of the last decisions
implementation, in which the Ramazan package attracted major
deliberations. The ECC was informed that the Prime Minister himself has
desired to have a detailed meeting on this issue besides the approval
of the price package which is for the sixteen essential edible items.
The Ministry of Industries submitted the following statement of the
current prices and corresponding subsidies accorded on the items, which
was duly approved also:
The Chairman of the Committee directed
the concerned authority to ensure availability of the these items
throughout the Ramazan, and no complain of shortage or deficiency of
any item should come. The USC and Ministry of Industries and Production
assured the Finance Minister and the committee of installing separate
counters for sale of the subsidized items during Ramazan. The Chairman
of the ECC asked the Ministry of Industries to keep monitoring teams
alert throughout the country to make these items available at these
counters.
On the summaries moved by the Ministry of Industries,
the committee has constituted a committee headed by the Finance
Minister to have further deliberations on import of urea for Kharif
2011 and Rabi 2011-12. The committee includes Syed Naveed Qamar,
Minister for Water and Power, Dy. Chairman Planning Commission. Dr.
Asim Hussain, Minister for Petroleum, and Secretary Industries who will
have further discussions for the import of urea for Kharif and Rabi
2011-12.
The ECC approved the request made by the Minister of
Water and Power for the Waiver of Demmurage and Detention Charges for
425 MW Combined Cycle Power Project at Nandipur being implemented by
the Northern Power Generation Company provided the Law Division also
approves. And in case Law Division raises objections, the matter shall
be reffered to the Cabinet for further discussion. It may be mentioned
here that machinery for the power generation is lying at the Karachi
Port whose authorities are asking the for the proper follow up of the
procedure for the release of this consignment. It may be mentioned here
that the Government of Pakistan has approved 425 MW Combined Cycle
Power Project Nandipur, District Gujranwala in the ECC meeting held on
27.12.2007 at an agreed price of 329 million dollars. However, it was
subject to Ministry of Finance provision of guarantee for the loan of
329 million dollars.
On the request for purchase of 50,000
metric tons sugar from Pakistan Sugar Mills Association, the ECC was of
the view that in the wake of the satisfactory situation of the
strategic reserves, procurement is moresoever not required till
December. However, the Chairman of the ECC besides agreeing for the
non-procurement of 50,000 metric tons decided for a smaller meeting in
this regard with him within next two days, with the concerned
authorities. The ECC meeting was largely attended by the concerned
Ministers and Secretaries and Chairmen of the Corporations. Online
