Desert locust threat: Rs 459.5 million grant approved by ECC

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved a technical grant of Rs 459.5 million for dealing with the desert locust threat after Ministry of National Food Security and Research gave a briefing on the measures taken so far.

The ECC meeting chaired by Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh was requested by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for a technical grant to cope with the emergency of desert locust threat in Pakistan. An official said that the ministry sought Rs 203 million for purchase of pesticides and sprays and for other expenditures; however, the committee approved Rs 459.5 million with the directive to adopt a transparent procedure for clearance of land from locusts without any distinction between land of the rich and the poor. "I don't to want to hear tomorrow that big land owners have been given preference over the poor," the advisor was quoted as telling officials of food ministry. The ministry is said to have told the ECC that its target is to clear 3,000 hectares of land every day to protect crops.

The ECC was also informed that nine districts of the country are affected by locust and the Department of Plant Protection has been given the responsibility to deal with the threat. So far 170,000 hectares have been cleared and the ministry is being provided updates on a daily basis. The ECC also directed that in its next meeting a detailed briefing on the control of the locust threat be presented.

The ECC also approved the "Enactment of Pakistan Single Window Bill, 2019" to be sent to the cabinet. The enactment of the bill will highly facilitate businesses in Pakistan. The ECC was apprised that 42 government agencies are involved in granting approvals for different businesses. Through this single window, all parties involved in trade and transport can lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfill all import-export and transit-related regulatory requirements. The Customs Wing in FBR developed NSW roadmap and implementation framework in April 2018 with the help of International experts.

This initiative is expected to improve Pakistan's rating at Ease of Doing Business Index. It is expected that the project will be completed in December 2021.

The ECC also allowed the continuation of funding facility by Government Holding Private Limited (GHPL) for Inter-State Gas Systems (Private) Limited for another 2 years. There will be a provision in the agreement that as soon as the first project reaches closure, ISGS needs to be financially self-sustaining and it should put forward a business plan as how it will return the loan it has taken.

The ECC approved the placement of the annual report of the National Economic Council (NEC) (as required by Article 156 of the Constitution), before the cabinet after the chair was briefed that the points raised regarding the report for its placement before the Cabinet, have been duly addressed.

Ministry of Energy got the approval of a proposal for the extension and rehabilitation of gas network in oil and gas producing districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Phase-1), supply of gas to villages falling beyond 5-km radius of Mardan Khel-III, district Hangu, and supply of gas to Hafizabad. Accordingly, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) was allowed to execute gas development schemes recommended by DWP and endorsed by the Board of Directors of SNGPL along with appropriate share of the funding shared between SNGPL and the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

On a proposal sent by the Ministry of Interior, the ECC approved the allocation of Rs 300 million through technical supplementary grant for raising one special wing of Pakistan Rangers for (protection of) Kartarpur Corridor on the recommendation of General Headquarters (GHQ). The ECC directed that a three-member committee consisting of Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain, secretary finance and a representative of Ministry of Interior will look into the details of the proposal and further rationalize the costs.