ECC Approves Grants for Elections, Education, Security, PTDC Plan

The Economic Coordination Committee, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, met today to approve technical grants for elections, education, security, and disaster relief across Pakistan for 2025–26.

During the meeting, the ECC considered a summary submitted by the Election Commission of Pakistan seeking the release of a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 455 million for local government elections in Punjab, Islamabad Capital Territory, Sindh, and Balochistan. After deliberation, the ECC directed the ECP to re-submit the summary with a clearer specification of the nature of expenditure and proposed utilization of the funds.

On two separate summaries submitted by the Interior and Narcotics Division, the ECC approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 100 million for the execution of Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme schemes through the Capital Development Authority.

The Committee also approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 8.79 million, within the sanctioned budget, for the purchase of spare parts and routine maintenance of helicopters under Frontier Corps Balochistan during the current financial year.

The ECC further approved a proposal submitted by the Federal Education and Professional Training Division for a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs. 1 billion to ensure continuity of existing scholarship programmes and launch new initiatives, including schemes targeting out-of-school children.

Towards the conclusion of the meeting, the ECC approved a proposal from the Revenue Division regarding the allocation of two consignments of relief goods, including tarpaulin tents and winter clothing, confiscated by Pakistan Customs and now vested as state property. These items will be provided to the Government of Gilgit-Baltistan for use by the Gilgit-Baltistan Disaster Management Authority in emergency relief operations in calamity-affected areas.

The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari, who participated virtually, and Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain.

Senior federal secretaries and officials from the concerned ministries, divisions, and regulatory bodies also attended the meeting to provide necessary briefings and inputs on the agenda items.