ECC approves increase in stipend for Ehsaas Kafalat beneficiaries

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Shaukat Tarin, chaired the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet here on Monday in Islamabad.

During the meeting, ECC approved the request of the Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Division regarding the Indexation Policy for cash transfer and allowed BISP to adopt the institutional mechanism for periodic update of regular cash transfer benefits to Ehsaas Kafalat Beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Program.

ECC approved the enhancement of Ehsaas Kafalat monthly stipend to the tune of Rs 166 per beneficiary w.e.f. 1s January 2022. The beneficiaries would receive additional cash of Rs 166 per month due to indexation.

• ECC also approved the additional funds’ requirement of Rs75 million of the Ministry of Housing and Works in respect of three development schemes.

Technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs43 million in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works was also approved.

ECC in its meeting allowed the Information and Broadcasting Division for re-appropriation of PSDP funds of Rs. 17.633 million through a technical supplementary grant.

The Interior Ministry’s request for a technical supplementary grant of Rs30 million was also approved.

Similarly, technical supplementary grant request of Ministry of Narcotics Control for Rs 5 million, Science & Technology for Rs 317 million and Establishment Division for Rs. 54 million was approved in the ECC Meeting.

Arrears of contribution amounting to Rs. 3369.62 million on account of Group Insurance Fund by the Finance Division on behalf of the Federal Government Non-Gazetted (BS 1 to BS ) employees was also approved in the meeting.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed Ahmad, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister on Energy Hammad Azhar, Federal Minister for Railways Azam Khan Swati, Special Assistant to PM on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr. Sania Nishtar, Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr. Ishrat Hussain, SA to PM on Finance and Revenue Dr. Waqar Masood, Federal Secretaries and senior officers.