ISLAMABAD: Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh stated unequivocally on Wednesday that Pakistan had no intention of seeking any kind of relief for repayment of its commercial loans or borrowings.
“Pakistan has the means and will to honor its commercial commitments,” the advisor said while chairing the meeting of Chairman Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet here.
The committee approved in principal to allow Economic Affairs Division (EAD) to sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for availing the G-20 relief initiative. However, this would be subject to the approval of the Cabinet.
Pakistan is required to enter into this MoU with all official bilateral creditors including Paris Club creditors to implement the debt relief initiative of G-20.
Meanwhile, the ECC also approved various technical supplementary including Rs. 360.515 million for the repair and maintenance of Supreme Court of Pakistan Buildings in Islamabad and various cities; Rs3.836 billion in favor of Ministry of Housing and Works to execute development schemes in the Sindh Province and Rs. 291 million in favor of Ministry of Housing and Works/ Pak. PWD for payment of salary of maintenance staff of Pak. PWD.
On the recommendations of the Committee formed under the Chairmanship of Adviser to PM on Institutional Reforms and Austerity and comprising Secretary Finance Division and Secretary Power Division to look into the issues of servicing of power sector loans and stock handling in a holistic manner, ECC allowed allocation of Rs.10 billion from Stimulus Package as a stop gap arrangement for the payment of interest on the Pakistan Energy Sukuk-II for a period of six months or amendment in NEPRA Act whichever is earlier.
ECC also approved the proposal of the Revenue Division for declaration of multi-modal transit hub Jia Bagga NLC Transit Port as Customs Clearance port under Section 9 of the Customs Act 1969.
In order to reduce the capacity charges of power generation companies through synthetic financing, ECC approved the ToRs for negotiations with IPPs/Gencos as recommended by a committee constituted by the CCOE vide its decision dated April 2nd 2020 under the Chairmanship of Minister for Power and comprising SAPM on Mineral Resources, Secretary Finance Division, Secretary Power and Secretary Law and Justice Division,
The committee will submit its report in due course, the statement added.
In order to manage and operate the Prime Minister’s COVID-19 Pandemic Relief Fund 2020, ECC approved the constitution of the Policy Committee under the chairmanship of Prime Minister of Pakistan.
The 8 member committee would comprise of members including Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives; Adviser to PM on Finance and Revenue; Adviser to PM on Commerce and Investment; SA PM on Poverty alleviation and social safety; Prime Minister’s Focal person for Corona Philanthropy Drive, Secretary Finance Division while Secretary Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety would be secretary of the committee.
Terms of reference for the proposed committee would be 1) to decide on the appropriate usage of the proceeds deposited in the fund including means of identification of the beneficiaries of the fund and the parameters of their selection; 2) to decide about the means of disbursement of assistance to the beneficiaries; and 3) to take any appropriate decisions for collection of donations, maintenance and administration of the fund and related matters.
In order to devise a comprehensive policy to incentivize “Smart phone manufacturing in Pakistan” ECC constituted a committee under the chairmanship of Federal Minister for Industries and Production and with members from Ministries of IT and Industries, Board of Investment and Engineering Development Board.
The Committee would bring its proposals after consultation with all the relevant stakeholders in due course.
ECC also assigned the role of Chairman, to Hammad Azhar, being the Federal Minister for Industries and production, of the Committee to oversee the effective utilization of subsidies, Ramazan relief package and PM’s relief Package of 50 billion by Utility Stores Corporation.
