ECC approves Rs190mn for coastal areas’ survey

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet has approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs109.47 million for the Ministry of Defence for the survey of the coastal areas.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance, Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh chaired the ECC meeting here on Wednesday.
The amount was surrendered by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs as the Pakistan Army has offered to assist in the survey.
The ECC also approved the summary moved by the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for the allocation of another 38 MMCFD gas from 3 new wells REHMAN 6,7 and 8 to M/S SSGCL, subject to all regulatory approvals. The price of gas will be as per the applicable petroleum Policy.
The ECC granted approval for the renewal of the contract with TAVANIR Iran for the purchase of 104MW of electricity subject to vetting by the Ministry of Law & Justice. The contract, if approved by the Ministry of Law and Justice will be valid till 31st December 2021.
The meeting was attended by the Minister for Railways, SAPM on Petroleum, Adviser Commerce, Adviser to PM on Revenue and Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity.
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs also presented another summary for the waiver of demurrage charges on Afghan Transit Cargo/ Afghan bound containers stranded at Karachi ports.
Earlier the government had decided to ask the terminal operators to waive of 75 percent of the demurrage charges on Afghan Transit containers / cargo landing at ports from 22nd March to 30th September 2020 (Covid-19 period) including refund of demurrage charges already recovered from such importers of Afghan bound transit container/cargoes.
The Minister for Maritime Affairs advised TO’s to approach their principals for approval of 75 percent of demurrage charges by 5-10-2020. After the terminal operators showed their inability to accede to the ministry’s request, the matter was brought to the ECC for guidance. The ECC directed that the same committee that has been engaged with the terminal operators should again negotiate with the operators to reach an amicable solution to the issue.
In order to facilitate the telecom sector by the waiver of certain taxes, the ECC decided that the proposal may be granted approval in principle. The ECC further directed that a subcommittee may be constituted, consisting of Adviser to the PM on Revenue, Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms & Austerity, Minister for Industries & production and Adviser Commerce, to prepare a modified proposal in view of the FBR’s response for final approval. – TLTP