ECC okays Rs6.6bn for bulletproof vehicles for next year's SCO summit

Dawn reported that the Economic Coordination Committee, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, cleared Rs6.6 billion for buying 30 armoured vehicles ahead of the SCO summit Pakistan will host in September 2027. The Cabinet Division had sought Rs12.6 billion for more than 50 vehicles to carry heads of state, but the committee asked it to return later with a detailed needs assessment before any further funding is considered.

In the same meeting, the committee allowed gas supply to Fatima Fertiliser and Agritech to continue until September 30 under the current arrangement. The move keeps fertiliser output running while imported liquefied natural gas remains unavailable. A proposal on minimum indicative prices for tobacco and cess rates was deferred after the committee found the justification insufficient.

The ECC also cleared the export of donkey meat and hides from Gwadar Free Zone, subject to safeguards. It further approved a Rs5 billion seed grant for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund, to be held under the Endowment framework.