Up to Rs 10 billion has been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet for the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). With these funds, the NDMA will be able to obtain and provide relief items to the flood affectees in various parts of the country. As per the request of the ECC, the Finance Division will immediately release Rs. 5 billion to the NDMA. At a meeting virtually presided over by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, the NDMA presented a summary for the allocation of funds for procurement and logistics of relief items for flood affected people and apprised the attendees about the devastation caused by the recent floods in Pakistan.

Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Abdul Qadir Patel, MNA/ex-PM Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Federal Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Federal Minister for Power Khurram Dastgir Khan, Federal Minister for Industries and Production Makhdoom Syed Murtaza Mehmmod, and Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, Coordinator to the PM on Economy Bilal Azhar Kayani, Chairman of NDMA, Chairman of FBR, Federal Secretaries and senior officers attended the meeting.

The NDMA started an emergency purchase costing Rs. 2.4 billion to give flood victims quick aid. The materials currently acquired are insufficient due to extensive damage. In order to assist individuals who are impacted, the NDMA issued orders for the emergency procurement of extra commodities worth Rs. 7.113 billion. For logistics and the purchasing of goods for the flood victims, NDMA had earlier received Rs. 8 billion. The money given before was insufficient because the price of only purchasing the things topped Rs. 9.5 billion. NDMA is in charge of logistics for all goods and aid sent by friendly nations in addition to procurement.

In light of office memoranda from the Ministry of Commerce dated 22 July 2022, 19 August 2022, and 23 August 2022, the ECC also took into consideration a summary of the Ministry of Commerce on the clearance of stuck-up consignments. The proposal was approved by the ECC, and it was ordered that shipments of previously banned goods that arrived in Pakistan up until August 18, 2022, may be released with a surcharge.

The ECC directed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to withdraw the summary, submit a fresh summary on paracetamol, rationalize the price, and ensure its availability. The ECC postponed discussion of the summary provided by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research regarding the import of wheat through the sea port of Gwadar.

Credit: Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk