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The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has approved key amendments to the Business-to-Business (B2B) Barter Trade Mechanism with Afghanistan, Iran, and Russia. The decision aims to streamline bilateral trade under non-cash settlement arrangements, offering greater flexibility to Pakistani businesses in cross-border transactions.
The Ministry of Commerce presented the draft Statutory Regulatory Order (SRO), which received ECC’s approval, marking another step in strengthening regional trade partnerships amid limited access to global banking channels. The mechanism is expected to help exporters and importers manage essential goods exchange without relying on dollar-based payments.
Earlier, Pakistan had introduced the B2B Barter Trade framework in June 2023 to facilitate trade with sanctioned or dollar-short economies. However, stakeholders had called for revisions to make the system more practical. The fresh amendments now address these concerns, potentially expanding trade flows with the three neighboring countries.
Alongside this approval, the ECC also discussed other major financial matters. These included:
| Decision | Details |
| Roosevelt Hotel Support | Directed review of urgent financial needs after lease termination in New York |
| Defence Complex Islamabad | Approved Rs. 4 billion for land compensation; balance to be met by CDA |
| Law & Order Support | Approved Rs. 20 billion TSG for Interior Division, phased release |
| Frontier Corps KP (N) | Approved Rs. 174.8 million for enforcement and operations |
The meeting was attended by Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Investment Board Minister Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Adviser on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, along with senior federal secretaries and officials.
Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the importance of ensuring timely support for critical projects while balancing fiscal discipline. Officials highlighted that the updated barter trade policy could “unlock regional opportunities for Pakistani exporters and ease supply challenges in essential commodities.”
