The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet which is scheduled to meet on Wednesday (today) will approve mechanism to distribute Rs200 billion amongst the small SMEs and daily wage workers.
Well informed sources told Business Recorder that on March 27, 2020, Ministry of Finance conveyed the requirement " to develop a comprehensive proposal in consultation with relevant stakeholders" for implementation of the announcement of the Prime Minister "Rs200 billion to be earmarked for targeted payments to daily wagers/ workers".
Accordingly, a summary was moved for the ECC on March 29 which came under discussion in the ECC meeting on March 30 in which Ministry of Industries and Production was directed to submit the case after detailed deliberation in consultation with the Poverty Alleviation and Social Security Division and other stakeholders to the ECC in its next meeting for consideration.
In view of this, detailed meetings have been held with the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) authorities wherein the issue was discussed at length in order to develop a comprehensive plan. Accordingly, the concept note has been prepared. Further to it, a meeting was also held on April 11, 2020 of the Minister of Industries and Production with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation/ Chairperson BISP.
MoI&P has requested the ECC to approve the proposal and release Rs 75 billion from the PM's relief package to BISP.
Industries and Production Division further informed that with reference to the potential targeted payments to laid off daily wage earners in the formal industries sector, it is important to note that it is possible that some of them are already covered under category one and two of the Ehsaas package as outlined and the rest can be covered under the third category.
Running two separate programmes will lead to potential overlaps which are in this emergency situation difficult to remove and will lead to inequity. Questions of equity also arise if two emergency programmes of the government are providing relief at two different rates when essentially the purpose of the two programmes is the same. Two separate programmes also double the risk inherent in targeting as well, as delivery, especially when for one of the two programmes the targeting and delivery systems are yet to be worked out. Under the given circumstances and limitations, the funds meant for targeted payments to laid off daily wage earners can be used as a supplement to the Ehsaas Covid-19 package by broadening (increasing the number of beneficiary households) and deepening (increasing the amount to individual households) in order to bring the deserving laid off daily wage earners into the emergency benefit scheme.
The ECC will also consider a proposal of MoI&P regarding payment of Rs 20 billion as Syed Umar Baqi & 842 other retired employees have filed a petition against the GoP in SHC for non payment of their dues .
Other proposals which will be considered by the ECC are as follows: (i) Pakistan Hydromet and Ecosystem restoration services project - exemption from re-lending policy ;(ii) approval of the budget proposal for the year 2019-20 & revised budget estimate for 2018-19 of EOBI;(iii) provision of funds of Rs 150 million as grant in aid/ seed money for Islamabad Health Care Regulatory Authority;(iv) approval of technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs 7 million with sanctioned budget for purchase of spare parts for helicopter maintenance by HQs Frontier Corps, Balochistan and ;(v) technical supplementary grant of Rs 606 million for 19 projects to be implemented by Government of Balochistan for FY 2019-20.
The ECC being met with Advisor on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh would now formally allocate funds for payment to daily wagers to be made in collaboration with the industries and provincial governments, said an official.
The ECC would also take up a proposal of water resources for consideration and approval of technical supplementary grant of Rs606 million for 19 projects to be implemented by the Government of Balochistan for the fiscal year 2019-2020.
Sources added that a proposal by the Interior Division for approval of technical supplementary grant of Rs7 million within the sanctioned budget for purchase of spare-parts of helicopter maintenance by Headquarters Frontier Corps Balochistan (North Quetta) during the fiscal year 2019-2020 is also on the agenda of the ECC for Wednesday's meeting.
The ECC would also consider Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination's proposal for provision of Rs150 million as grant in aid seed money for Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority.
The meeting would also consider overseas Pakistanis and HRD request for approval of budget proposal for the year 2019-2020 and revised budget estimates for 2018-2019 of EOBO.
The Finance Division's presentation of Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) as well as climate change proposal with regard to hydromet and ecosystem restoration services project (PHETPS)-exemption from relending policy are also expected to be given approval by the meeting.
Ministry of Industries and Production order dated 16-08-2018 in CP No D-1388/2019 filed by the Syed Umer Baqi and 842 other vs Federation of Pakistan, and others in the High Court of Sindh, Karachi are also on the agenda of the ECC.
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