Federal cabinet denies removing Maryam Nawaz's name from ECL

An approval for the determination of the maximum price of medicines was also on the agenda.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – The federal cabinet on Tuesday afternoon decided to not remove Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Maryam Nawaz’s name from the Exit Control List (ECL) following recommendations of a sub-committee.

Prime Minister Imran Khan presided over a meeting of the federal cabinet to analyse a 15-point agenda, including a review of the overall economic and political affairs of the country.

“Does anyone has any objection to the decision of the sub-committee?” the prime minister questioned.

Subsequently, cabinet members took unanimous decision and stated that the federal cabinet endorses sub-committee’s decision.

The cabinet approved the determination of the maximum price of medicines, and the decisions taken by the Economic Coordination Committee’s (ECC) recent meeting.

It also green signaled the appointment of a senior member of the Federal Land Commission, and the appointments of the chief executive officers (CEOs) of the First Women Bank and the EXIM Bank of Pakistan.

The cabinet also discussed and gave its go-ahead about the Executive Committee of the Pakistan Sports Board, to restructure the board and amend the Law concerning it.

The approval of the appointment of chairpersons and members of the National Commission for Human Rights has also been granted.

A relief to the people living near restive Line of Control (Loc) along India and Pakistan in Kashmir through Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) has also been accepted.

The formation of the board of directors of the National Power Park Management of Companies has also been approved.

Later, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Dr Zafar Mirza along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan held a press conference to apprise about the decision taken by the cabinet.

Importantly, Mr Mirza highlighted that the government has decided to reduce prices of 89 different medicines by 15 percent with an immediate effect. He asserted that the decision has been taken under the Drug Pricing Policy.

ECC reallocates Rs4.05 billion under SAP

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet yesterday approved a technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs4.05 billion lapsed during the financial year 2018-19 under the Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP).

The approval to the proposal, submitted by the cabinet division, was granted by the ECC at its meeting with Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair.

The reallocated funds will be used under the SAP to make specific interventions as per demand of the community across the country in line with the United Nations Conventions.

The ECC also granted ex-post facto approval to a proposal by the interior ministry for a technical supplementary grant amounting to Rs100 million on making security arrangements in the federal capital in October 2019.

However, the ECC expressed its concern at the manner in which ad-hoc arrangements were made which were costly and disruptive for business sector and for perception of the country, and asked the capital administration to find a permanent solution to deal with the issue in the future.

It also approved a proposal by the Ministry of Industries and Production for utilisation of the subsidy as approved by the cabinet in pursuance of the Prime Minister’s directive dated November 08, 2019, involving grant of Rs6 billion for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) of Pakistan for subsidy and procurement of essential commodities, including flour, sugar, ghee/oil, pulses and rice.

The ECC constituted a committee, headed by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce, Textiles, Industries and Investment, Abdul Razak Dawood to monitor the disbursement of subsidy and provision of commodities at a fair price to the poor segment of the society through a transparent and effective mechanism and report back to the ECC in its next meeting.

On a proposal by the Ministry of Narcotics Control for a technical supplementary grant of Rs7.904 billion for operational cost of Anti-Narcotics Force after the release of said money by the International Narcotics & Law Enforcement Affairs (INL-P), US Embassy Islamabad, the ECC approved the proposal with instructions that such proposals involving transfer of money from external sources should be taken up by the Ministry of Finance itself instead of the ECC and release of money be ensured through a smooth manner.

It also approved a proposal by the Finance Division for submission of supplementary budget statement (addendum) amounting to Rs170.418 billion from the Federal Consolidated Fund for the financial year 2018-19 to the National Assembly as per Article 84(a) of the Constitution.

The ECC also approved another proposal from the Finance Division for laying before the National Assembly the supplementary demands for grants and appropriations for the financial year 2018-19.

It also took up a proposal by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research for exemption of 5% sales tax on cotton seed cake and after a detailed discussion on the issue, referred the matter to the Finance Division for examination and a report to ECC in its next meeting.