ISLAMABAD — The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has officially approved three special export finance subsidy schemes designed to aggressively boost Pakistan’s outbound trade. During a high-level meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, the committee greenlit a comprehensive trade package comprising an updated Export Finance Scheme, a Long-Term Export Growth Financing Facility, and a performance-based rebate structure targeting incremental exports. Recognizing the constraints faced by smaller sectors, the ECC integrated dedicated incentives for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) within the core framework and mandated a comprehensive performance review of all three schemes to be submitted within six months to evaluate their financial impact.
Beyond trade facilitation, the committee resolved several pressing matters pertaining to the energy sector and fiscal management. The ECC approved a technical supplementary grant worth Rs 4 billion to fund legal defenses and international arbitration proceedings involving Independent Power Producers (IPPs). In a structural reorganization of power sector liabilities, the body authorized the formal transfer of pensioners from defunct Generation Companies (GENCOs) to their respective power Distribution Companies (DISCOs). Furthermore, the committee approved the technical classification of the Pub reservoir in the Rehman-8 ST-3 well as a tight gas reservoir, finalized the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) budget estimates for the 2025–26 fiscal year, and established a local gas tariff mechanism for RLNG-based power generation plants.
