ECC approves Rs6.6bn for bulletproof vehicles ahead of SCO summit

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Monday approved Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bulletproof vehicles for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, scheduled to be held in Pakistan in September 2027.

The meeting, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved a technical supplementary grant (TSG) of Rs6.6 billion against the originally proposed Rs12.6 billion for the vehicles.

The ECC directed the Cabinet Division to conduct a comprehensive assessment of the requirement for additional vehicles.

It further directed that the matter be brought back before the committee if the need for additional vehicles persists.

The committee also deferred a summary seeking revision of the minimum price of tobacco and the applicable cess rate. The relevant authorities were directed to submit a more concrete analysis of the proposal concerning tobacco prices.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the ECC approved a proposal for the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone.

The committee also approved continued gas supply to Fatima Fertiliser and Agritech until September 30.

In another decision, the ECC approved Rs5 billion as seed money for the Danish Schools Authority Fund. The funds will remain under the endowment framework, according to the official statement.

The committee also reviewed progress on the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond and set September 30 as the deadline for reporting further progress. The Ministry of Federal Education was directed to ensure substantial progress on the initiative by the deadline.