ECC approves Rs1,066 mn grant to clear dues of PSM's deceased employees

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Thursday approved a grant of Rs 1,066.078 million for payment of outstanding dues to families of the deceased employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

The approval came during a meeting of the ECC presided over by Finance Minister Asad Umar in Islamabad.

The ECC in consideration of the proposal of the Ministry of Industries and Production approved the grant for payment of dues (provident fund, gratuity and payroll dues) to families of the deceased employees of PSM.

It discussed a proposal submitted by the Ministry of Commerce & Textile to allow import of cotton from Afghanistan/Central Asian states via the land route through the Torkham Border crossing. The committee accorded an approval for the import with the condition that all sanitary and phytosanitary regulations shall be enforced.

The ECC also directed the relevant ministries to engage with the industry for establishment of a permanent quarantine facility for cotton imported through land route.

The Ministry of National Food Security secretary shared with the meeting a report on value-added chain of sugar. The ECC took notice of the issue of pending payments to sugarcane growers as well as difficulties faced by millers in view of surplus stocks, possibility of their export and redressal of liquidity issues.

The committee directed the Minister of National Food Security and Adviser Industries to hold a meeting with the Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA), and resolve their issues. It accorded an approval for sale of 200,000 tons of wheat to shed the surplus stocks of PASSCO to Poultry Association of Pakistan (PPA).

The ECC also had deliberations on the proposed plan of the Ministry of Energy for gas load management during winter season and decided to have further discussions on the matter at the next meeting to finalize the plan.