ECC Recommends PPRA to Relax Rules for Urea Import

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet has recommended Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) to give exemption to the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP) from its rules to republish tender for procuring urea from abroad.

A handout issued by the Economic Affairs Division that the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Division (EAD) Omar Ayub Khan, on Monday chaired the ECC meeting and took several important decisions.

According to details, the Ministry of Industries and Production had tabled a summary, seeking relaxation of PPRA rules for import of urea. The ECC, after due deliberation, recommended PPRA to give exempt TCP of its rules due to emergency to republish the tender for the procurement of urea till fetching of low prices during the Rabi session-2021-22.

The ECC also deliberated, in detail, on another summary of the Ministry of Industries and Production on Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) policy 2021-25. The policy framework is based on reforming the policy and regulatory environment and addressing the SME market constraints on both the demand and supply sides.

The ECC also considered and approved the following Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs):

The ECC also approved the Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs) worth Rs. 10 billion during FY 2021-22 under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Program (SAP).

In addition, the chair also approved TSG worth Rs. 134.783 billion for payment to IPPs on the second installment (60%) as per payment mechanism and Rs 338 million during FY 2021-22 in favor of National Rahmatul-Lil-Alameen Authority (NRA), Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training.

The funds of Rs. 5.85 billion in favor of Housing and Works to execute

development schemes in Sindh and Balochistan Provinces under (SAP), Rs. 1.08 billion from PSDP to Interior Division for further release to ICT Administration and Rupee Cover Budget against US$ 200 Million (Equivalent to Pak Rs. 35 billion) out of US$500 million committed by ADB for procurement of Covid Vaccine and Ancillary Goods and Services have also been approved.

The ECC also approved Rs. 4.785 billion in favor of the Elections Commission of Pakistan for the conduct of Local government Elections in all provinces and for periodical revision of electoral rolls.

Earlier, Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin presided over the Technical Advisory Committee meeting of the ECC subsequently, chairman Omer Ayub chaired the full meeting which was attended by Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Khusro Bakhtiar, Federal Secretaries and senior officials.

Source: Pro Pakistani