ECC approves Rs480 million risk allowance for health care workers

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet on Wednesday approved Rs480.556 million to pay risk allowance to all health care workers performing duties related to COVID-19 in the federal government.

The ECC meeting chaired by Finance Adviser Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh approved the risk allowance equal to one pay to health workers. The amount shall be provided out of Rs50 billion of the fiscal stimulus package through technical supplementary grant.

The amount shall be paid to 3,432 employees of ten health institutions of the federal government. The situation will be reviewed after four months for the continuity of the allowance.

The ECC also approved technical supplementary grant of worth around Rs22 billion for various ministries and attached departments.

Regarding wheat procurement, ECC was briefed that so far Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (PASSCO) and provincial food departments have procured 6.5 million tons out of the assigned target of 8.25 million tons. PASSCO and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government shall continue procurement till end of this month.

In order to provide relief to small and medium enterprises during the ongoing pandemic situation, ECC approved the change in key terms of the Kamyab Jawan Program. There will be three tiers of the loans instead of two tiers. The new tiers will start from 100,000 to 1,000,000, one million to 10 million, and ten million to 25 million rupees.

The meeting also approved the supply of 10,000 metric tonnes of wheat to World Food Program for emergency relief operations and allowed import of wheat by the private sector for unlimited period after waiving different taxes and duties.

ECC also directed to remove restrictions on the movement of wheat and flour within the country and banned exports till next recommendations. The electric vehicle policy for two and three-wheelers and heavy commercial vehicles was also approved.