ECC okays over Rs6bn for security ahead of SCO Summit

September 08, 2026 (MLN): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs6.6bn for the purchase of 30 bullet-proof vehicles to be used for the movement of Heads of State during the SCO Summit, which Pakistan is set to host in September 2027.

The Cabinet Division had sought approval of Rs12.6bn, but the ECC approved the amount partially and directed the Division to conduct an in-depth need analysis before reverting with any additional requirement.

The meeting was held at the Finance Division under the chair of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, said a press release issued.

The ECC deferred the summary submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research on Minimum Indicative Prices (MIPs) of tobacco crop and revision of cess rates for FY2026-27, directing the Ministry to resubmit the proposal with justifiable analysis after finding the case required further rationale-building.

The forum approved the recommendations of the committee constituted to resolve issues relating to the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone, with the safeguards proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research.

The ECC also approved continuation of gas supply to FatimaFert and Agritech till September 30, 2026, under the existing arrangement, on a summary moved by the Ministry of National Food Security & Research.

Separately, the forum approved Rs5bn as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund through TSG, to be maintained under an endowment framework, on a summary submitted by the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training.

The ECC additionally took up a progress review of the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond (PSIB) and set September 30, 2026 as the deadline for the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional Training to share substantive progress against the initiative for which a GoP guarantee had been extended.

The meeting was also attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Mr. Ahsan Iqbal; Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Rana Tanveer Hussain; Federal Minister for Investment, Mr. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh; Federal Minister for Petroleum, Mr. Ali Pervaiz Malik; and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production, Mr. Haroon Akhtar Khan; along with Federal Secretaries and Senior Officials from the relevant Ministries, Divisions, and Regulatory Authorities.

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