The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved technical supplementary grants exceeding Rs5 billion for the defence sector, along with Rs2 billion for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) program in Punjab.
It was also announced that defence expenditures would be formally included in the regular budget from the next fiscal year.
The ECC meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, approved additional funding for development, defence, and digital projects. The approvals also include Rs320 million for the purchase of 15 vehicles for children with special needs.
According to the Ministry of Finance, defence spending will be incorporated into the formal budget starting next year. The vehicles will be provided for special children at the Autism Center Islamabad, while Rs800 million has been approved for the establishment of the Asaan Khidmat Markaz in Islamabad.
An amount of Rs3.7 billion has been approved for digital connectivity and IT infrastructure, with directives issued to strengthen e-governance and the national ICT ecosystem. The ECC also approved the establishment of FBR digital enforcement stations, allocating Rs3 billion for the third quarter.
The statement further said that a high-level committee has been formed to review the future of the Asia Petroleum Limited (APL) pipeline, and it has been directed to present an action plan by January 31.
Additionally, a finance fund has been approved to promote the film and drama industry, with Rs700 million allocated for this purpose. The Ministry of Finance stated that a performance report on the utilization of the film and drama fund must be presented after six months.
