By Khawaja Hamza

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bullet-proof vehicles for the movement of heads of state during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which Pakistan will host in Islamabad in September 2027. The Cabinet Division had initially sought Rs12.6 billion for the vehicles. The ECC, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, directed the Cabinet Division to conduct an in-depth assessment and return with any additional requirement if necessary.

The ECC also deferred the proposal for Minimum Indicative Prices of tobacco and revision of cess rates for FY2026-27, directing the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to resubmit it with stronger justification. It approved the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone, subject to recommended safeguards, and allowed continued gas supply to Fatima Fertiliser and Agritech until September 30, 2026, under the existing arrangement.

The committee further approved Rs5 billion as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund under the endowment framework. It also reviewed progress on the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond (PSIB) and set September 30, 2026 as the deadline for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to provide substantive progress on the initiative.