Islamabad – 28 January 2026(Nosheen): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet met today at the Finance Division under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, to consider a range of important economic, fiscal and sectoral matters aimed at ensuring macroeconomic stability, protecting consumers, strengthening social services, and addressing operational requirements of key public sector entities. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, along with federal secretaries and senior officials from the concerned ministries, divisions, and regulatory bodies. During the meeting, the ECC approved the disposal of 500,000 metric tons of PASSCO wheat stock through competitive bidding to manage surplus stocks, reduce carrying and storage costs, and ensure price stability in the domestic wheat market while safeguarding national food security.
In a related decision, the Committee approved the provision of 300,000 metric tons of PASSCO wheat to the Food and Consumer Protection Department of the Government of Punjab to maintain adequate supplies for flour mills, stabilize prices, and ensure uninterrupted availability of wheat flour to consumers. The ECC also approved the release of Rs. 10.98 billion as a Technical Supplementary Grant to clear long-standing outstanding liabilities of utility companies against the Pakistan Post Office Department (PPOD), addressing payables accumulated over several years. In the health sector, the Committee approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 29.663 billion for the Federal Directorate of Immunization under the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination. The grant will ensure uninterrupted procurement of vaccines and syringes under the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI), sustain routine immunization coverage, prevent outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, and fulfill Pakistan’s international public health commitments. The ECC further approved the sharing of subsidy on imported urea on a 50:50 basis between the Federal Government and provincial governments through a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 23.42 billion requested by the Ministry of Commerce. Of this amount, Rs. 15 billion will be released by the Finance Division, while the remaining amount will be arranged subject to availability of fiscal space.
In the housing and development sector, the Committee approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 1.9 billion in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works for meeting capital outlay under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme. The funds will be utilized for execution of development schemes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa through Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited, aimed at accelerating infrastructure development and improving service delivery. The ECC also approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 150 million for Cadet College Hasan Abdal under the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to meet operational and developmental requirements and ensure smooth functioning of the institution. Finally, the Committee approved the distribution of confiscated solar panels by the Federal Board of Revenue to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan, along with the associated transportation and distribution plan. This initiative aims to help address electricity shortages in the region, promote renewable energy solutions, and support public service facilities through sustainable power generation.