ECC allows mills to export 32,000 tonnes of sugar

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has allowed the mills in Sindh to exports 32,000 tonnes of sugar till August 12 ‘under the verdict of the Sindh High Court (SHC)’, ARY News reported on Friday.

Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar chaired the ECC session and took major decisions today.

The meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved the Summary of the Ministry of Commerce regarding the extension of the period for the export of Sugar quota by sugar mills in Sindh and allowed them to export the remaining sugar quota of 32,000 MT within 60 days with effect from 12th June onwards in accordance with the Sindh High Court (SHC) decision.

The ECC also considered a Summary of the Ministry of Railways for the Provision of additional funds in Grant in Aid to Pakistan Railways for the discharge of pending liabilities including salaries and pensions of the staff, a press release said.

It was decided that an additional grant-in-aid of Rs. 2.5 billion may be released to address the shortfall in order to ensure the continuation of operations without interruption.

The ECC considered and approved the following Technical Supplementary Grants:

• Rs. 250 billion as TSG in favour of the Finance Division for Ways & Means Advances Availed by Provinces for expenditures incurred in excess of the allocated budget and the likely future requirements of the provinces during CFY.
• Rs. 3.628 billion as TSG in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works for the execution of development schemes in all provinces.
• Rs. 172.001 million as TSG in favour of Ministry of Housing and Works for ERE liabilities.
• Rs. 1200 million as TSG in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works for the execution of 16 development schemes.
• Rs. 1238 million as TSG in favour of the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for the fulfilment of GoP’s commitment to fund Balochistan Mineral Resources Limited’s obligatory contribution to the Reko-Diq Project for FY 2022-23.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Masood Malik, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, Coordinator to the PM on Economy Bilal Azhar Kayani, Federal Secretaries and other senior officers.

Earlier, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet approved a surcharge of Rs.1.52/unit to be recovered from K-Electric (KE) consumers in 12 months.

The cabinet committee meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, according to press statement issued by finance ministry.

Ministry of Energy (Power Division) submitted a summary regarding Quarterly Tariff Adjustments of K-Electric and informed that as per National Electricity Policy 2021, the government may maintain a uniform consumer-end tariff for K-Electric and state owned distribution companies.

Read More: Nepra announces reduction in power tariff for KE consumers

Accordingly, KE applicable uniform variable charge is required to be modified to maintain the uniform tariff across the country.

The ECC approved a surcharge of Rs1.52/unit to be recovered from K-Electric Consumers in 12 months. The ECC further allowed release and utilization of available budget of Rs76 billion as payment of arrears under different heads.

The ECC considered another summary of Ministry of Energy (Power Division) regarding implementation of revised circular debt management plan and utilization of Rs20.726 billion to government owned power plants.

The committee after discussion authorized Power Division to utilize one-time full amount out of assignment account in relaxation of limit of using Rs4 billion per month during June 2023 for the next five months and to ensure that there will be no more payment liability to IPPs for the period July 2023 to Nov, 2023.

The ECC also considered and approved another summary of Power Division regarding release of Rs. 56 billion as approved under revised CDMP against the AJ&K receivables.

The committee approved Rs1,914.83 million technical supplementary grants for various ministries and divisions.