The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on Thursday reviewed Pakistan’s improving inflation outlook and approved several financial, development, and social-sector measures. The meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.
Dr. Imtiaz Ahmad, Chief Economist at the Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Division, presented the latest economic data. He noted that headline inflation has eased this fiscal year, recording 4.1 percent in July and 3.0 percent in August. Temporary flood-related supply disruptions caused brief increases in September and October, but inflation moderated to 6.1 percent in November. The average inflation from July to November stood at 5.0 percent, down from 7.9 percent in the same period last year.
Weekly data from the Sensitive Price Indicator showed stabilizing trends in key commodities, with prices of 10 out of 51 essential items declining week-on-week. Officials attributed the improvement to fiscal prudence, targeted price-stabilization efforts, and closer market monitoring.
During the meeting, the ECC approved Rs. 5.76 billion for the Federal Education and Professional Training Division to establish Danish Schools in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan. The funds will also support the Prime Minister’s Youth Skill Development Program through NAVTTC. The committee recommended exploring public-private partnerships to enhance long-term sustainability.
Additional approvals included Rs. 5.19 billion for Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation projects, Rs. 170.4 million for the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation, and Rs. 6.358 billion for SDG-linked power schemes across Punjab, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad. The ECC also sanctioned Rs. 200 billion in equity injections for DISCOs to ease cash-flow constraints in the energy sector.
The ECC further approved Rs. 4.775 billion for families of missing persons, funds for helicopter maintenance for the Frontier Corps Balochistan and Pakistan Rangers (Sindh), and Rs. 250 million for operationalizing King Hamad University of Nursing and Allied Medical Sciences.
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The meeting was attended by federal ministers, secretaries, and senior officials from relevant ministries and regulatory bodies, reflecting a coordinated approach toward financial management and development.
