The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Wednesday reverted the gas tariff for non-commercial tandoors to their pre-June 30 level.
The ECC, which met with Advisor to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Sheikh in the chair, decided to provide relief to masses by reverting the gas prices for tandoors to the position of June 30, 2019. The decision was taken despite the fact that price of wheat, which contributes 55 to 60 per cent to the price of the roti, remained unchanged while the gas bills that contribute 20 per cent to 25 per cent to the price of roti had also not been issued yet under the new tariff having come into effect from July 1, 2019.
Under the decision, a detailed survey of the tandoors across the country will be carried out in order to ensure that the benefit of revision in gas tariff is made applicable to stand-alone tandoors or roadside restaurants catering to the needs of poor and no undue benefit is passed on to the tandoors in hotels or larger restaurants which are to be treated as commercial gas connections.
The ECC meeting also called for effective price control by provincial governments and relevant authorities to ensure the sale of roti at old price and decided to review the decision after three months in case the tandoor owners fail to pass the benefit of reduced gas prices to the common man.
A report on wheat situation in the country was also presented to the ECC. The meeting was briefed that there is 7.635 million ton wheat stock available with PASSCO and the provincial food departments. It was also informed that after the imposition of ban on the export of wheat and wheat flour, there has been a considerable reduction in wheat prices in the market and the situation will eventually reduce the prices of roti and naan in the market.
On the summary moved by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, the ECC decided to impose 10 per cent regulatory duty on import of cotton. The implementation of ‘Authorised Economic Operator Program’ as envisaged under Section 212 A(1) of the Customs Act, 1969, was also approved by the ECC.
The ECC allowed two LNG Re-gasification Terminals (Terminal 1, Engro Elengy Terminal Private Limited and Terminal 2 Pakistan Gas Port Consortium Limited) to allocate additional re-gasification capacity of terminal, if any, to third parties on a commercial basis under mutually agreed arrangements subject to certain conditions.
The ECC approved the authorisation of CPPA to sign the interim agreement regarding revised payment terms for generation on LNG by Altern Energy Limited, Kot Addu Power Company Limited and public sector Gencos and extension of interim agreement signed with Fauji Kabirwala and Rousch Power Limited expiring on June 30, 2018.
Among others, the meeting was attended by Minister for National Food Security and Research Sahibzada Mehboob Sultan, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform Makhdoom Khurso Bukhtiar, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Privatisation Muhammadmian Soomro; Minister for Power Omar Ayub Khan, Adviser to Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity Dr Ishrat Hussain and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Petroleum Nadeem Babar.
