Cabinet committee approves Rs380 billion for ministries and projects
The committee also approved Rs54 billion for ongoing defence projects and restricted imports of camera-enabled smart glasses.
The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet approved about Rs380 billion for various ministries and divisions on Wednesday, the state broadcaster Radio Pakistan reported.
The meeting in Islamabad was chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, and the committee earmarked Rs275 billion for key water infrastructure and ongoing projects.
It also approved Rs54 billion for ongoing Defence Services projects, along with Rs1.094 billion for the induction of a Lineage L-1000 aircraft and Rs29.139 billion for Project Istaqlal.
A grant of Rs3.71 million was approved to meet helicopter maintenance needs of the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North).
The committee approved the transfer of Rs15.625 billion in savings generated through austerity and fuel conservation measures to the Prime Minister's Austerity Fund 2026.
Rs1 billion was set aside for gasification of villages within a five-kilometre radius of gas production fields during the current fiscal year, which the committee said would improve access to natural gas in communities near producing fields.
The committee allowed gas supply to continue for FatimaFert and Agritech, two SNGPL-based urea manufacturing plants, until Dec. 31, 2026, subject to the availability of the required energy supply.
It also relaxed applicable Exploration and Production Rules to allow the extension and renewal of 89 petroleum rights, subject to prescribed conditions being met.
The committee approved a revised tier and bank rate structure for the Prime Minister's Youth Business and Agriculture Loan Scheme, which aims to expand access to affordable financing and promote youth entrepreneurship and employment.
The committee approved restrictions on the import of camera-enabled smart glasses and recommended that provincial governments and the Islamabad Capital Territory develop workplace regulations governing the use of such devices.
The ECC is the Cabinet body that reviews and approves federal decisions on government spending, financing and economic policy before they are implemented.
