ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is likely to consider and approve the Pakistan International Airline Corporation Limited restructuring plan today.
The ECC meeting to be presided over by Minister for Finance and Revenue Hammad Azhar will take up eight agenda items.
The ECC will consider Defence Division summary pertaining to allocation of Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs 310 million for VVIP aircraft for fiscal year 2020-21 under demand number 37 Defence Division (main).
The ECC will also take up the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training summary with regard to approval of Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs 2,382 million during 2020-21 in respect of the project titled, Prime Minister’s Special Package to Implement ‘Skill for All’ Strategy as Catalyst for TVET Sector Development in Pakistan.
The Finance Division summary for approval of Technical Supplementary Grant for refund of the balance amount of funds of Insaf Imdad-Ehsaas Program Category-IIIA will also be taken up by the ECC.
The Power Division also moved a summary for approval of Technical Supplementary Grant of Rs 211,000,000 and Rs 171,280,000 in favour of the Ministry of Energy (Power Division).
The ECC will also take up the summary of IT and Communication Division pertaining to the requirement of Rs 280 million for consultancy and implementation of Internet Voting (I-Voting).
The Board of Investment (BOI) also moved a summary to the ECC for approval of Supplementary Grant Rs 30 million under Board of Investment during the current financial year 2020-21.
The Power Division will also update the ECC about the GENCO wise / plant wise pensioners and employees cost, and the Ministry of Aviation will also present restructuring plan of the PIACL.
ECC may approve Rs280m for I-Voting project today
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet is likely to approve the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication’s proposal for approval of Rs280 million for the internet voting (I-Voting) project today (Wednesday).
Sources said the MoITT had moved a summary to the ECC meeting to be presided over by Finance Minister Hammad Azhar for the approval of Rs280 million for the internet voting.
A meeting of the sub-committee on Emerging Technologies for I-Voting was held under the chairmanship of the President of Pakistan, wherein, it was directed that the MoITT would provide its input for I-Voting.
Consequent to which the MoITT discussed and deliberated issues related to I-Voting with Internet Voting Task Force (IVTF), the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA), and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), the sources added.
During these consultations and multiple meetings held under the chairmanship of the president of Pakistan, it was agreed that an independent consultant would be hired, who would conduct a detailed study of prevalent I-Voting solutions and provide its recommendations with the way forward.
Subsequently, the ECP requested the MoITT to initiate the process of hiring a consultant.
In this regard, the MoITT was tasked to prepare and circulate the Expression of Interest (EoI) for endorsement of the NADRA and the ECP.
Sources said the president also directed the concerned departments to hire a consultant on the same TORs, who would not only work with that parallel sub-committee but also furnish their recommendations.
Sources said that key government ministries attended the meetings apart from the president on I-Voting.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister is also keeping track of the progress in view of technological development and transparency. Sources said there was no budget allocated for the MoITT for that activity during the current financial year. An amount of Rs280 million has been worked out for hardware software/ licensed software, operating expenditure, and consultancy services.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2021