ECC Approves Major Funds for Balochistan Solar Tube-Well Project, LNG Guarantees Extension & Technical Grants
ISLAMABAD – The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, convened today to deliberate on key national economic initiatives, including energy reforms, funding allocations, and sovereign guarantees.
Solarization of 27,000 Tube-Wells in Balochistan Approved
A major agenda item was the solarization of 27,000 agricultural tube-wells in Balochistan, a project greenlit by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in July 2024. The Rs. 55 billion program will be co-funded by the federal government (70%) and the Balochistan government (30%). With Rs. 14 billion already disbursed, the ECC approved the release of the remaining Rs. 24.5 billion.
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The ECC emphasized timely execution and instructed the Power Division to monitor key deliverables — especially the disconnection of tube-wells from the national grid and the removal of transformers and fixtures. Progress updates are to be submitted by July.
Extension of LNG Sovereign Guarantees for SNGPL
The ECC also approved the extension of sovereign guarantees until June 2026 for a Rs. 50 billion running finance facility, secured by Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) for LNG payments. The approval was based on the company’s improved financial outlook.
Approval of Technical Supplementary Grants (TSGs)
Several Technical Supplementary Grants were also sanctioned, including:
- Rs. 300 million for the Cabinet Division to operationalize new regulatory bodies.
- Rs. 1.269 billion for the Finance Division to manage PSDP projects formerly handled by the defunct PWD.
- Rs. 250 million (out of a Rs. 500 million PM-approved grant) for upgrading Sadiq Public School, Bahawalpur.
- Rs. 109 million for the Ministry of Interior for UN Peacekeeping mission equipment.
- Rs. 500 million for operational requirements of Frontier Corps KP North.
- Rs. 25.9 million for maintenance of Cessna aircraft under the Interior Ministry.
- Rs. 2.32 million for construction of Michni Training Centre, Frontier Constabulary KP.
- Rs. 556.8 million for functionalizing 36 Appellate Tribunal Inland Revenue benches across Pakistan.
- Rs. 106 million for the National Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (NEECA) under a national fan replacement programme aiming to cut peak power demand by 5,000 MW.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Power Sardar Awais Leghari, Minister for Investment Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, and senior government officials
