Islamabad (Web Desk): The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has given the go-ahead for a Rs75 billion allocation under the Prime Minister’s Fuel Relief Scheme.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the ECC in Islamabad on Monday, presided over by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb.
The relief programme has been designed to cushion financially vulnerable sections of society from the impact of higher petroleum prices.
As part of the initiative, individuals using motorcycles and other two- and three-wheelers will be provided Rs500 every week. The amount has been calculated against five litres of fuel at a subsidised rate of Rs100 per litre. Owners of vehicles with engines of up to 800cc, meanwhile, will qualify for Rs1,000 after every ten days, with the calculation based on 30 litres of fuel consumption per month at Rs100 per litre.
Only private, non-commercial vehicles will qualify for the facility, while the subsidy will be available for a single vehicle registered to or owned by each eligible user.
The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecom has been tasked with introducing and administering the Fuel Pass System. The digital platform will be used to process the relief and ensure its distribution through a transparent mechanism.
According to the plan, the targeted digital system will help direct assistance to eligible consumers while improving transparency and accountability during the implementation of the programme.
The ECC also took up a proposal seeking approval to export 200,000 metric tonnes of excess sugar. It endorsed the recommendations put forward by the Steering Committee on Sugar, while calling for suitable measures to safeguard domestic supplies and prevent instability in local sugar prices.
Another proposal reviewed by the committee involved an allocation of Rs3 billion for acquiring 15 bullet-proof sedan cars. The vehicles are intended for security arrangements for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Council Summit, which Pakistan is scheduled to host in Islamabad in September next year.
The committee was informed that the bullet-proof vehicles were required to provide fool-proof security to heads of state attending the summit.
The ECC underscored the significance of the upcoming event and called for all necessary preparations to be completed well in advance.
The committee stressed that transportation arrangements should be comprehensive, secure, and properly coordinated to ensure smooth movement throughout the event.
During the meeting, officials also reviewed the arrangements made for the recently held SCO Heads of State Summit in Kyrgyzstan. The high-level security and transportation measures adopted there were appreciated, with the ECC considering them a suitable model for similar arrangements.