Govt approves Rs4bn grant for enumerators participated in census

• Enumerators were not paid for participating in census. 
• PBS demanded Rs11.9bn via technical supplementary grants.
• These enumerators would participate in Feb 8 polls. 

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the federal cabinet approved Rs4 billion for the enumerators who participated in the 7th population and housing census out of the total demand of Rs11.9 billion, The News reported Friday.

The development came after the enumerators threatened not to perform their duties in the upcoming February 8 elections due to the failure of the government to make payments. 

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has demanded Rs11.9 billion through technical supplementary grants (TSG) and the Ministry of Planning forwarded a summary to this effect. 

The ECC approved Rs4 billion as TSG for payment to enumerators who had performed during the last census exercise. These same enumerators belonging to the education department would be involved in the upcoming general elections.

According to an official statement issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr Shamshad Akhtar presided over a meeting of the ECC on Thursday. 

Approval of summaries

Other than the payments of the enumerators, the committee was also briefed on the summary of the Aviation Division regarding the allocation of TSG of Rs500 million to the Ministry of Aviation for a sub-project titled "Modernisation Of Hydromet Services of PMD in Pakistan (MHSP)".

After due deliberations, the ECC approved the summary.

Moreover, the ECC also approved the summary of Rs38.856 million for the Institutional Reforms Cell (IRC) and the Importation of Sahiwal Bull from Pakistan as semen donors for the National Artificial Insemination (AI) Programme after discussions. 

The summaries for the Rehabilitation of flood-damaged rural roads in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the provision of clean drinking water in model areas UC 99, 100 and 101 in Lahore through counter value fund deposited under Japanese Grant Aid were also approved. 

Furthermore, the provision of additional funds amounting to Rs1,591.624 million through TSG for procurement of servers and hiring consultants for FY2023-24 was approved.

The ECC also gave approval of TSG amounting to Rs7.15 billion during FY 2023-24 for the programme titled “Actions To Strengthen Performance For Inclusive And Responsive Education (ASPIRE)" for federal education and professional training.

The summaries from the Ministry of Housing and Works/Pak PWD for the provision of TSG of Rs25.00 million, Rs319.500 million and Rs51.960 million for different projects were also approved.

The committee also discussed the summary presented by the National Food Security & Research regarding the demand and supply of wheat in the country, approving it. 

The ECC debated on the summary regarding the Comprehensive Sustainable Plan for price rationalisation of subsidised wheat in Gilgit-Baltistan and later gave its approval after direction from the Finance Ministry. 

The ECC also approved the summaries from the Planning Ministry for TSG for budgetary allocation/rupee cover for utilisation of foreign aid for the FY2023-24.