PM takes back Dar’s power to chair ECC meetings

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has taken back Finance Minister Ishaq Dar’s power to chair the highest economic decision-making body — the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet — by reconstituting it with immediate effect. The new premier has reconstituted the ECC by selecting 11 members of this forum and decided to chair it himself instead of rendering these powers to Ishaq Dar.

The ECC of the Cabinet is the domain of the prime minister but former prime minister Nawaz Sharif had granted these powers to Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for taking important and crucial decisions.

However, a close aide of Ishaq Dar argued that the federal cabinet took up these issues for endorsement, so practically there was no change because the prime minister is considered as the ultimate captain of the government.