ECC approves around Rs41bn in supplementary grants

Mettis Global reported that the Economic Coordination Committee has cleared technical supplementary grants totalling about Rs41bn for several public bodies and projects. The largest allocation is Rs11.329bn for the Utility Stores Corporation, which will meet its immediate funding needs and support completion of its closure. Rs10bn goes to the Thar Coal Rail Connectivity Project and Rs8bn to the Public Private Partnership Authority.

The meeting, chaired by Finance and Revenue Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, also endorsed a State Bank of Pakistan framework. It brings Agency Financial Institutions under existing government risk cover, widening credit access for small businesses and smallholders. Microfinance and non-banking lenders would reach borrowers through wholesale and agency channels. A further change to the Credit Guarantee Trust Fund deed seeks fuller use of its guarantee facility for affordable housing loans.

Other decisions covered minimum indicative prices for the 2026 tobacco crop, a revised cess rate for 2026-27 and an amendment to the additional customs duty on locally made tyre imports. The Election Commission received an immediate Rs2bn release from its Rs17.873bn request for election materials, and a PASSCO receivables proposal was deferred. For market readers, the tobacco and tyre measures tie these policy steps to listed manufacturers in those sectors.