ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Tuesday approved Rs3 billion in emergency relief for flood victims in Gilgit-Baltistan, while also sanctioning partial financial assistance for the Pakistan Television Corporation (PTV) and authorising a settlement framework for recovery of petroleum levy arrears.
The meeting, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved funds for provision of tents, medicines, food supplies and reconstruction of damaged infrastructure for flood victims in Ghizer and other districts, in line with directives issued by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his recent visit. The summary was tabled by the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan and States and Frontier Regions.
The ECC also approved Rs3.8bn out of Rs11bn sought by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting for PTV, with the remaining funds to be released on a quarterly basis. While granting the request, the committee emphasised the need for PTV to reduce reliance on budgetary support and move towards financial self-sustainability.
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Separately, the committee authorised the Petroleum Division to finalise a settlement with Cnergyico PK Limited for recovery of petroleum levy dues pending since 2019, directing that the entire outstanding amount be recovered strictly under the agreed framework.
The forum also cleared a mechanism to transfer benefits from levies collected on captive power generation to grid consumers and approved terms for the Machike-Thallian Tarrujabba White Oil Pipeline project being developed in collaboration with Azerbaijan. Officials said the strategic project would further strengthen bilateral friendship and trade and investment ties between the two countries.
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Special Assistant to Prime Minister for Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan, besides federal secretaries, representatives of regulatory bodies and senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions.
