The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, chaired by Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, has cleared the controlled export of donkey meat and hides to China through the Gwadar Free Zone. Designed to tap into high demand in China and curb illicit smuggling, the initiative will operate under strict safeguards proposed by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research. The approved framework includes setting up dedicated farmhouses for raising donkeys, alongside specialized slaughterhouses in Gwadar for processing and export, promising significant foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan.
The committee also tackled several other key national and financial matters during the meeting:
- SCO Summit Security: Approved a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs6.6 billion for the Cabinet Division to acquire 30 bulletproof vehicles for heads of state attending the upcoming Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in September 2027. Further funding requests will require a detailed need analysis.
- Gas Allocation for Fertilizers: Extended the gas supply arrangement for FatimaFert and Agritech through September 30, 2026.
- Education & Development: Allocated Rs5 billion as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund under an endowment structure and set a September 30, 2026 deadline for progress on the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond (PSIB).
- Tobacco Pricing Deferred: Postponed a decision on the minimum indicative prices (MIPs) and revised cess rates for tobacco for FY2026-27, directing the food security ministry to provide a more comprehensive justification.
