The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Tuesday approved World Food Programme (WFP) request for purchase/reservation of 120,000 metric tons of wheat for Afghanistan in 2022-23 on humanitarian grounds.
The purchase would be made from the imported wheat stock of Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) on the latest import price, according to press statement issued by Finance Ministry.
According to the statement, the ECC meeting was chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Miftah Ismail while among others it was attended by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal; Federal Minister for Commerce, Syed Naveed Qamar; Federal Minister for Power, Khurram Dastgir Khan; Minister of State for Petroleum Division, Musadik Masood Malik; Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting. The summary for wheat WFP wheat reservation was made by Ministry of National Food Security & Research.
The amount of supplied wheat along with cost and incidentals would be charged in US dollars. The wheat would be locally grinned into wheat flour and would be supplied to Afghanistan by WFP, subject to relaxation of ban on the export of flour to the extent of the instant proposal of 120,000 MT of wheat. The Ministry of National Food Security and Research also submitted a summary on urgent advice relating to award of second international wheat tender 2022 opened on 1st July, 2022 for 500,000 MT. The ECC considering the lower trend of wheat in the international market approved the lowest bid offer of M/s Cargill Int. PTE /Cargill Agro Foods Pakistan @ US$ 439.40/MT for 110,000 MT +/- 5pc MOLSO to the extent of 500,000 MT. The ministry presented another summary on the declaration of “National Disease Emergency” on account of Emergence of Lumpy Skin disease in Pakistan.
The ECC after detailed discussion directed the ministry to prepare a cost sharing plan after convening a meeting with concerned provincial secretaries and NDMA. Ministry of Commerce submitted a summary to seek permission for one time release of those consignments of items banned on 19th May, 2022 which have reached Pakistan or would reach or their payments.
In order to resolve the hardship cases, the ECC granted one-time special permission for release of consignments stuck at the ports due to contravention framed under SRO 598(I)/2022 dated 19th May,2022, only for those consignments which have landed at ports or airports in Pakistan on or before 30th June, 2022. Ministry of Commerce also presented a summary on suspension of import conditions contained in import policy order 2022 with regard to import of Timber/Wood.
In view of hardship case of timber importers as the consignments were supplied against contracts months ago and the shipments have already arrived, the ECC decided that date of implementation of IPO 2022 regarding import of timber and wood falling under HS Codes 4401 to 4409 may be suspended till 31st August , 2022 i.e., for the bills of Lading issued till 31st August, 2022.
The ECC also approved another summary of Ministry of Commerce to amend paragraph 3(1) of the Import policy Order 2022 to allow import of goods of Afghan origin against Pak Rupee and without the requirement of EIF forms for a period of one year, subject to the condition that Afghan exporters will provide a Certificate of Origin issued by Afghan Customs proving that the goods have originated from Afghanistan. Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary on continuation of PM’s relief package, 2020, Sasta Atta initiative for KPK & expansion of Utility Stores network across Pakistan.
The ECC decided to continue subsidy on five essential commodities with direction to Ministry of Industry to work out feasible proposal on subsidy programme keeping in mind the financial implications. The ECC also approved a summary submitted by Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication on constitution of Auction Advisory Committee to oversee spectrum auction(s) for next generation mobile services (NGMS) in Pakistan. The Committee will be headed by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue. The ECC also approved supplementary grant in favour of Economic Affairs Division amounting to Rs193.006b for foreign loan repayments.