ECC approves Rs6.6bn for 30 bullet-proof vehicles for SCO Summit

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bullet-proof vehicles to facilitate the movement of Heads of State during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit to be hosted by Pakistan in September 2027.

The ECC meeting was held at the Finance Division on Monday under the chairmanship of Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.

The ECC considered a summary submitted by the Cabinet Division seeking Rs12.6 billion in TSG for the purchase of bullet-proof vehicles. After detailed deliberations, the committee approved Rs6.6 billion for 30 vehicles and directed the Cabinet Division to conduct an in-depth assessment of any additional requirement before bringing the matter back to the ECC.

The committee also considered a proposal from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research regarding Minimum Indicative Prices (MIPs) for tobacco crop and revision of cess rates for the financial year 2026-27. The ECC deferred the proposal, directing the ministry to resubmit it with further justification and detailed analysis.

The ECC approved recommendations concerning the export of donkey meat and hides from Gwadar Free Zone, subject to the safeguards proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The committee also approved continuation of gas supply to FatimaFert and Agritech until September 30, 2026, under the existing arrangement.

In another decision, the ECC approved Rs5 billion as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund through TSG, to be maintained under an endowment framework.

The ECC also reviewed progress on the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond (PSIB) and extended the deadline to September 30, 2026, for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to provide substantive progress on the initiative for which the government guarantee had been extended.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions and regulatory authorities.