Islamabad: The ECC Approves Wheat Sale Policy decision emerged as the central outcome of a high-level Economic Coordination Committee meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb at the Finance Division.
The session focused on addressing surplus wheat stocks, managing fiscal pressures and approving targeted development funding, reinforcing the government’s administrative and economic policy direction.
ECC Approves Wheat Sale Policy to Manage Surplus Stocks
During the meeting, the Economic Coordination Committee considered a proposal from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research regarding the disposal of 500,000 metric tons of wheat stock held by PASSCO.
Officials informed the committee that a previous attempt to sell the wheat at earlier approved reserve prices could not be finalized due to lower-than-expected bids. In light of existing stock levels and the financial burden of carrying costs, the ECC approved the sale of 500,000 metric tons through competitive bidding on a First-In-First-Out basis.
Revised reserve prices were set at:
- PKR 4,150 per 40 kg for local wheat
- PKR 3,800 per 40 kg for imported wheat
The decision reflects the government’s effort to stabilize commodity management while minimizing fiscal exposure.
Technical Supplementary Grant for PSDP Projects
In a separate agenda item, the ECC approved a Technical Supplementary Grant amounting to Rs. 536 million for Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) projects previously overseen by the defunct Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD).
The approved amount will be transferred to the Governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to ensure continuity of specific ongoing projects, in accordance with legal and constitutional provisions.
The move is seen as part of a broader administrative restructuring aimed at preventing delays in development execution following institutional transitions.
For related coverage on fiscal governance, readers can visit our Government & Policy section and detailed reports under Pakistan Politics for broader parliamentary developments.
Petroleum Division Summary Returned for Further Review
The meeting also reviewed a summary presented by the Petroleum Division concerning a fact-finding report on the Deed of Settlement with Cnergyico PK Limited. The report had been submitted in compliance with earlier ECC directions related to delayed payment of Petroleum Levy.
However, the committee returned the summary with observations, directing that a more comprehensive presentation be made in a subsequent meeting. This indicates continued oversight on energy-sector compliance and revenue matters.
Global fiscal governance practices, often analyzed by organizations such as, show that commodity management and levy enforcement are critical tools for maintaining macroeconomic stability—an approach reflected in the ECC’s deliberations.
Participation in the Meeting
The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Rana Tanveer Hussain, Federal Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh (virtually), and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Industries and Production Haroon Akhtar Khan (virtually), along with senior officials from relevant ministries and divisions.
Their participation underscores the cross-sectoral implications of the decisions taken, particularly in food security, fiscal management and energy revenue oversight.
