ECC approves Rs540m for USC to supply essential commodities in flood-hit areas

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved 540 million rupees for Utility Stores Corporation (USC) to ensure supply of essential commodities in flood-affected areas.
The ECC, which met in Islamabad Thursday with Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in the chair, also allowed supply of PASSCO’s wheat among all recipients with a ratio of fifty percent each local and imported. However, USC will be provided 75 percent local and 25 percent imported wheat.
According to a press statement issued after the meeting, Ministry of National Food Security and Research tabled a summary for allocation of PASSCO’s local and imported wheat sock among recipient agencies. It was briefed that PASSCO serves as a strategic organization to procure wheat from Punjab, Sindh and Baluchistan to build strategic reserves and to supply wheat to recipient agencies in case of emergency. Every year, on the request of recipient agencies, PASSCO makes allocation of wheat from its stocks.
PASSCO held wheat stock of 2.499 MMT, including 1.232 MMT carry forward stocks. In view of above, the ECC allowed to supply PASSCO’s wheat among all recipients@ 50% local and 50% imported. However, USC will be provided wheat @75% local and 25% imported. All recipients including USC would pay full cost of wheat (local + imported) and incidental charges to PASSCO.
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a summary on Urea Fertilizer requirement for Rabi season 2022-23. The meeting was briefed on the demand and supply situation of Urea fertilizer for the Rabi season 2022-23. After detailed deliberation, the ECC allowed Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) to initiate the process for import of 300,000 MT of Urea on G2G basis and decided the provinces to bear their subsidy share.
The ECC approved funds amounting to Rs. 3 billion to NDMA to meet its growing expenditure on account of procurement of rescue, relief and rehabilitation of the calamity stricken population across Pakistan. NDMA briefed the meeting that in the aftermath of devastation caused by floods across the country, millions of people have suffered in terms of loss of life, property, livestock and standing crops. NDMA was tasked by the Prime Minister to coordinate with PDMAs and to proactively undertake rescue and relief operation in the affected areas.
The ECC also approved funds requirement of Rs. 1,009,480,191/- in favour of Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation & coordination for further transfer to Government of Afghanistan through approved mechanism for running cost/salary of the staff of three Pakistani hospitals in Afghanistan.
Ministry of Industries and Production presented a summary for release of funds for Utility Stores Corporation for provision of essential commodities in flood affected areas. The meeting was apprised that the Utility Stores Corporation, in collaboration with provincial governments, is actively participating in relief operation for supply of essential food items in flood affected areas across Pakistan.
Due to emergency situation and based on the preliminary need assessment, 113,700 ration bags amounting to Rs. 540 million would be disbursed. Considering emergency situation, the ECC approved Supplementary/ Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 540 million in favour of Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Power Mr. Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmood, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Mr. Ahsan Iqbal, Mr. Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, MNA/ex-PM, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, Dr. Muhammad Jehanzeb Khan, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Government Effectiveness, MD USC, MD PASSCO, Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting. NNI