The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bullet proof vehicles to facilitate the movement of Heads of State during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which Pakistan is scheduled to host in September 2027. The approval forms part of the government’s preparations for the international summit and was granted after the Cabinet Division requested Rs12.6 billion for the requirement. The ECC approved a partial amount and directed the Cabinet Division to conduct a detailed assessment of its needs before submitting any additional funding requirement.
The ECC meeting was held at the Finance Division under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, according to a press release. The approved funding will be provided through a Technical Supplementary Grant and will be used specifically for the procurement of the 30 bullet proof vehicles intended for the movement of visiting Heads of State during the SCO Summit. The decision comes well ahead of the September 2027 event, giving the relevant authorities time to arrange the required resources and complete procurement preparations.
The Cabinet Division had initially sought Rs12.6 billion, but the ECC decided to approve Rs6.6 billion rather than the full amount requested. The committee also instructed the Division to undertake an in-depth need analysis and return with any further requirement after completing the assessment. This means additional funding, if considered necessary, will be examined separately after the Cabinet Division provides further justification regarding its requirements for the summit.
During the meeting, the ECC also considered a proposal from the Ministry of National Food Security and Research concerning Minimum Indicative Prices of tobacco crop and the revision of cess rates for fiscal year 2026-27. The forum deferred the summary and directed the Ministry to resubmit the proposal with a more detailed and justifiable analysis. The committee determined that the case required further rationale-building before a decision could be taken on the proposed changes.
The ECC also approved recommendations of a committee formed to resolve issues related to the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone. The approval was granted along with the safeguards proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The decision addresses the regulatory and operational issues surrounding the export activity while incorporating safeguards put forward by the relevant ministry.
Separately, the ECC approved the continuation of gas supply to FatimaFert and Agritech until September 30, 2026, under the existing arrangement. The matter was considered on a summary submitted by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The approval allows the existing gas supply arrangement for the two entities to continue through the specified date.
The forum also approved Rs5 billion as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund through a Technical Supplementary Grant. The amount will be maintained under an endowment framework and was approved on a summary submitted by the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training. The funding is intended to provide seed capital for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund and establish the financial base of the endowment arrangement.
The ECC additionally reviewed progress on the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond. Following the progress review, the committee set September 30, 2026 as the deadline for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to provide substantive progress against the initiative. A Government of Pakistan guarantee had previously been extended for the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond, making the progress assessment an important part of monitoring the initiative.
The meeting was attended by several federal ministers and senior government officials. Participants included Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Prime Minister’s Advisor on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan. Federal secretaries and senior officials from relevant ministries, divisions and regulatory authorities also participated in the meeting.
The ECC’s latest decisions cover security preparations for the upcoming SCO Summit as well as funding, agriculture, energy supply, education and skills development matters. The Rs6.6 billion allocation for 30 bullet proof vehicles represents the committee’s initial approval against the Cabinet Division’s larger request, with any additional requirement subject to further analysis and justification. Meanwhile, the approval of Rs5 billion for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund, continuation of gas supplies and review of the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond add to the range of government financial and administrative matters addressed during the meeting.
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