$ 1.1 bn allocated for procuring Covid-19 vaccine

News Report

Islamabad: The ECC of Cabinet has expressed the government’s commitment to providing $1.1 bn for procurement of COVID-19 Vaccine for achieving the vaccination target (minimum 45 million and maximum 65 million) till December 2021.

The ECC in its meeting of May 31st, 2021 had already approved $ 130 million (equivalent to Rs. 20 billion) for procuring the Covid-19 vaccine for the month of June 2021. However, due to the increased target of vaccination by NCOC, another $50 million was required in addition to the already approved amount for the month of June 2021.

The Committee also approved the additional funds of $ 70 million for achieving the vaccination target for the month of June 2021. Vaccine procurement is currently the responsibility of the National Disaster Management Authority.

The Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue, Mr. Shaukat Tarin, chaired the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet at the Cabinet Division on Wednesday.

The meeting was participated by Federal Ministers for Economic Affairs Division, Maritime Affairs, Power and Privatization along with Adviser to PM on Austerity and Institutional Reforms, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Governor State Bank of Pakistan, and Federal Secretaries of various Ministries & Divisions.

The ECC allowed the amendments in three SROs (SRO 235 (1) 2020, 236 (1)/2020, and 237(1) 2020) dated 20th March 2020 issued by the Revenue Division to facilitate the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination for the import of COVID 19 medical and diagnostic equipment.

The meeting also approved the request of the Economic Affairs Division to proceed with the formal request for availing the G-20 Debt Relief for the extended period, July- December 2021.

The Committee also permitted the signing of MoUs with bilateral creditors in terms of the prevailing rules and regulations.

It also approved the following important technical supplementary grants, including the following:

I. Rs. 629.203 million for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for discharging the liabilities of the Prime Minister’s fee reimbursement scheme for less developed areas during the current financial year.
II. Rs.378 million for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for meeting its various important requirements.
III. Rs. 1162.745 million for the Finance Division for the payment of the annual maintenance fee of System Application Product (SAP) software licenses and for purchases of SAP software licenses.
IV. Rs.338.637 million for the Finance Division to meet the various budgetary requirements of the Department of Auditor General of Pakistan under different heads of accounts.
V. Rs. 350 million for the Controller General of Accounts for payments under the Prime Minister’s Package to the families of Government Employees who die in service and leave encashment.
VI. Rs. 74.135 million for meeting the marketing expenses of the incentive scheme of home remittances. The Chair directed that the impact analysis of this marketing scheme should be shared with the forum.
VII. Rs.505 million for the Housing and Works Division for the repair and maintenance of different government buildings.
VIII. Rs. 22.176 million for the Ministry of Human Rights for meeting various employee-related expenses.
IX. Rs. 37.423 million for the Industries and Production Division for meeting various expenses of Small and Medium Enterprises Development Authority.
X. Rs.82.8 million for the Revenue Division for meeting its various obligatory expenditures.
XI. Rs. 42.9 billion for the Finance Division for ways and means advances availed by the Provincial Governments.
XII. Rs. 105.490 million for the Ministry of Narcotics Control for the clearance of loans and advances of the Shuhda and deceased officials of ANF.
XIII. Rs. 2 billion for the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training for meeting the financial requirements of the financially distressed Universities.
XIV. Rs.12.2 million for the Ministry of Climate Change to be given to the Environmental Protection Agency to meet its various expenses.