The Economic Co-ordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet in its meeting on Wednesday is likely to approve a package of billions of rupees to overcome loadshedding in the country. The package includes procurement of 132 transformers of 11 kV by the power distribution companies (Discos) at a cost of Rs 5.8 billion, sources said.
They said that ECC is also expected to clear a proposal to obtain 200 MW power plant, on rent, to be installed at Piranghaib (Multan) where electricity crisis is expected to be very serious in the days to come. They said that the government has not yet decided whether it would obtain this power plant from the United States of America or any other country, and added that the project would be offered on International Competitive Basis (ICB) and any country or company could participate in the bidding.
"We are taking these measures to meet power shortage as short-term plan, already cleared by the President and Prime Minister," said an official of Ministry of Water and Power. The Cabinet Division had kept the ECC agenda top secret to avoid leakage and had delivered it at the residences of the Ministers and Secretaries. However, Business Recorder got a copy of the agenda from Finance Ministry.
The ECC is also expected to approve levy of Rs 5 per 170-kg bale as cotton standardisation fee for meeting establishment and operational expenses of Pakistan Cotton Standard Institute (PCSI).
The proposal was submitted by the Ministry of Textile Industry (Mintex) and had to be considered by the ECC in its previous meeting, but was deferred when the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock (Minfal) raised objections on some details of the project.
Minfal was of the view that levy of cotton standardisation fee should be Rs 5 per 170-kg bale rather and not Rs 15.30.
The Ministry of Railways has proposed leasing out of two concrete sleeper factories to international companies, which are most probably to be given to the Chinese companies, which are already in business in Pakistan.
The ECC would also allocate 110 MMCFD gas from Mari field for setting up a urea and phosphatic fertiliser plant with the name of Fatima Fertiliser Company Limited. The Ministry of Industries and Production was pursuing Petroleum Ministry for allocation of the gas for the plant, which would materialise after the approval by the ECC.
Another issue which would be the main focus of the ECC would be the rising prices of edible oil/ghee, pulses and sugar as government steps taken so far have failed to give relief to the general public.
Minfal has forecast further increase in the prices of essential items, especially in Ramazan, and suggested import of pulses by TCP to meet the requirements.