ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) approved billions of rupees in new funding for defence, development, and digital projects.
The ECC cleared more than Rs5 billion in technical supplementary grants for the defence sector. It also approved Rs2 billion for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) program in Punjab.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb chaired the meeting. The committee approved additional funds for development, defence, and digital initiatives. Officials announced that defence spending will become a formal part of the federal budget starting next fiscal year.
The ECC approved Rs320 million to purchase 15 vehicles for children with special needs. The vehicles will serve patients at the Autism Centre in Islamabad. The committee also sanctioned Rs800 million to establish an Asaan Khidmat Centre in the capital.
To strengthen the digital sector, the ECC approved Rs3.7 billion for digital connectivity and IT infrastructure. It directed authorities to boost e-governance and the national ICT ecosystem. The committee also approved the creation of digital enforcement stations for the Federal Board of Revenue, allocating Rs3 billion for the third quarter.
The meeting decided to form a high-level committee to review the future of the Asia Petroleum Limited (APL) pipeline. The committee must submit an action plan by January 31.
The ECC also approved a finance fund to support Pakistan’s film and drama industry. It allocated Rs700 million for the initiative. The finance ministry said a performance report on fund utilization will be mandatory after six months.
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The decisions reflect the government’s focus on fiscal discipline in defence, stronger digital governance, social welfare, and support for cultural industries, officials said.
