ECC directs utility stores to expedite procurement of food items for Ramazan

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Wednesday directed the Utility Stores Corporation to expedite the procurement of essential food items to provide timely relief to the people in the holy month of Ramazan, ARY News reported.

This was decided in the ECC meeting chaired by Finance Minister Asad Umar.

A four-member Committee was also constituted headed by Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed to oversee the implementation of Ramazan Package.

Speaking on the occasion, Asad Umar said the government was determined to phase out the supplementary grants in the future budgets.

He said that the budgetary needs of many organizations had not been properly assessed at the time of preparation of budget estimate last year which was leading to a large number of demands for Supplementary Grants.

The minister emphasized the need for proper budgeting of the financial needs of various departments.

The Ministry of Petroleum briefed the ECC on the implementation of the Committee’s decision regarding utilisation of services of Pakistan Railways for transportation of petroleum products across the country.

The Ministry of Railways informed the Committee that it had the capacity to carry higher volumes and would work with the Ministry of Petroleum to explore further possibilities.

The ECC approved, in principle, the proposal of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for media campaign aiming to disseminate information relating to initiatives on Poverty Alleviation, Sehat Insaaf Scheme, PM’s Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme and others.