Shehbaz to head ECC, Dar cabinet panel on privatisation

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted six separate cabinet committees on economic coordination, energy, Chinese investment projects, privatisation, State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) and disposal of legislative cases.

The committees have been constituted in terms of Rule 17(2) of Rules of Business 1973. The prime minister himself will chair the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet which also comprises ministers for finance, economic affairs, commerce, power, petroleum and planning, development and special initiatives. However, in the PM’s absence, the finance minister would chair the ECC meetings.

The ECC also includes the Planning Commission deputy chairman, State Bank of Pakistan governor, Securities Exchange Commission of Pakistan chairman, Federal Board of Revenue chairman, Board of Investment chairman and federal secretaries for Power Division, Commerce Division, Communications Division, Finance Division, Industries and Production Division, Economic Affairs Division, Petroleum Division, Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Division, National Food Security & Research Division, Privatisation Division, Railways Division, Revenue Division, Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety Division and Water Resources Division.

Pakistan, law secretary, cabinet secretary and additional secretary of the PM Office are co-opted members of the committee.

The committee will see whether fresh legislation or amendments to the existing laws are in line with the constitutional scheme, not in violation of any existing law, and fall within the mandate of parliament.

It would also examine the contents of fresh legislations/ rules and the existing laws/rules and recommend if they are in line with the policy of the government and constitutional and legislative schemes.