A key economic body of the federal government on Friday approved the formation of an anti-riot division of the Paramilitary Frontier Constabulary as part of the Imran Khan Long March in the federal capital was set to clash with protesters.
This approval was given in the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) meeting of the Federal Cabinet on Friday. The meeting was presided over by Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, while Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Energy Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan, Industry and Production Minister Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mahmood, Minister of State for Petroleum Mossadegh Masood Malik, SAPM for Finance were present in the meeting. Others attended. Tariq Bajwa, Federal Secretaries and senior officers participated in the meeting.
New anti-rights Force
With the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) beginning another long march against the federal government, the central government has decided to shore up its resources.
A technical supplementary grant of Rs.333.915 million was proposed during the ECC meeting.
The grant was in favor of the Federal Ministry of Home Affairs for the current financial year 2022-23.
The grant will enable the Frontier Constabulary – which reports to the Home Ministry – to establish an anti-riot unit with 2,000 personnel.
Import of Wheat
The Ministry of National Food Security and Research submitted a summary seeking permission to import about 800,000 metric tonnes (MT) of wheat through the Trade Corporation of Pakistan (TCP).
The summary said that on May 9, 2022, the government had given permission to TCP to import 3 million tonnes of wheat and directed to formulate import procedures.
Ultimately, TCP was allowed to import 1 million MT of milling wheat through an international tendering process.
Later, public wheat stocks were re-verified by the committee which found the actual shortfall to be around 2.6 million MT of wheat instead of 3 million MT as previously thought. Therefore, TCP was allowed to import only 800,000 MT on open tendering as well as government-to-government basis.
The ECC allowed TCP to arrange import of 800,000 MT before the new crop was harvested.
Further, ECC directed to prepare and submit logistics plan within 15 days.
Distribution of wheat in provinces
The forum considered another summary of the Ministry of Food regarding the requests of Food Departments of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan for additional supply of wheat from Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PSCO) stocks.
The ministry said it prepares a list of allocations to recipients at the beginning of each food year for local and imported wheat supplies.
However, this year the provinces have demanded additional stocks of imported wheat from Pasco.
Among the additional demands, the food ministry said the demands from the flood-hit provinces of Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan are urgent.
Moreover, the demands were subject to the approval of the respective provincial cabinet.
ECC allowed 1 million metric tonnes of imported wheat from Pasco stock to be supplied to the provinces.
Of this, Punjab will get 500,000 MT of wheat, Sindh will get 300,000 MT of wheat and KP will get 200,000 MT.
However, provinces will have to pay the full cost of Pasco and incidentals.
Additionally, 40,000 metric tonnes of local and imported wheat – in the ratio of 50:50 – will be supplied to Balochistan at full cost and incidence of Pasco.
Approval of import of surplus wheat
The ECC held a detailed discussion and approved another summary from the Federal Ministry of Food for the immediate award of the 6th International Wheat Tender 2022.
Tender opened on 26 October 2022 for 500,000 MT.
Based on the results of the sixth international tender, the ECC approved the lowest bid of $373 per metric ton for 380,000 MT at CFR bulk in Karachi.
The tender will cost the government approximately $141.74 million.
Import of wood suspended
During the meeting, the Ministry of Commerce presented a summary of the suspension of timber and timber imports.
The forum was informed that the All Pakistan Timber Traders Association (APTTA) had requested an extension in the implementation of import permit conditions. The import of timber and timber has been suspended till August 31, 2022.
However, APTTA again approached the ministry with a similar demand.
The ECC directed the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) of the Ministry of Food to review the timber and timber import conditions and bring them in line with international best practices.
The forum also addressed the immediate concerns of the timber/timber industry, and approved the proposal to suspend the import of timber and timber till 31 March 2023.
Import of Urea
The ECC approved a summary from the Ministry of Industries to allow TCP to import 300,000 MT of urea fertilizer with the lowest bid of $520 per MT.
TCP had issued an international tender for import of fertilizer on October 19, 2022. It was opened on 26 October 2022. Among the three bidders, the lowest bid was $520 PMT for 300,000 MT.
