International Cricket Council (ICC) Chief Executive Geoff Allardice has confirmed that there are currently no plans to relocate the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 from Pakistan and assured that no team has expressed reluctance to play in the tournament.

Speaking at a media briefing in Dubai, organised for the Women’s T20 World Cup, Geoff expressed satisfaction about the tournament’s venue.

He stated that the ICC continued to conduct regular visits to its member countries, including Pakistan, to ensure the successful hosting of events. Despite previous challenges, he emphasised that all participating teams were committed to playing in Pakistan.

The ICC Champions Trophy 2025, known as the “Mini World Cup”, is set to feature eight elite teams including India, Australia, New Zealand, England, South Africa, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, based on their performances in the 2023 ODI World Cup.

Sri Lanka and the West Indies will not be competing in this edition. The Women’s T20 World Cup, originally scheduled to take place in Bangladesh, will now be held in Dubai and Sharjah due to political instability in Bangladesh. The tournament will commence on October 3, with the final set for October 20.

Speaking with media, Geoff emphasised the ICC’s confidence in Pakistan’s capacity to host the Champions Trophy and reiterated the organization’s commitment to advancing global cricket development and international engagement.

Three venues – Karachi, Rawalpindi and Lahore – will host the matches of eight teams and according to PCB’s proposed schedule to ICC, all of India’s matches will take place in Lahore.

The PCB also allocated Rs12.80 billion for upgradation of three stadiums. Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium, Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena and Rawalpindi International Cricket Stadium will be elevated ahead of the marquee event.

LAHORE:

The Zimbabwe Cricket Board has reached out to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to secure No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for Pakistani players selected to participate in the upcoming Zim Afro Cricket League, according to sources.

Sources confirmed that the PCB has given a positive indication, providing a green signal to ZC regarding the issuance of NOCs for Pakistani cricketers. However, the final decision is still under consideration by the PCB, and they have assured that the matter will be reviewed thoroughly.

Notably, players currently participating in the Champions One Day Cup will not be granted NOCs for the Zim Afro League. Sources suggest that only those players not involved in the domestic tournament stand a chance to receive the required clearance.

A total of seven Pakistani cricketers, including Shahnawaz Dahani, Asif Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Haider Ali, Yasir Shah, Mohammad Irfan, and Salman Irshad, have been selected to feature in the Zim Afro League.

However, among these, Haider Ali, Mohammad Asif, and Shahnawaz Dahani will actively play in the Champions One Day Cup. As a result, they will not be eligible to receive NOCs for the Zimbabwe-based tournament.

The fixtures for the second edition of the Zim Afro T10 tournament have been announced, with six teams set to compete for the top prize. The tournament will take place from 21 September to 29 September at Harare Sports Club, and preparations are already in full swing.

Each day of the tournament will feature three matches, beginning at 3pm local time (6.00pm PST). The second game of the day will be played at 5.15pm local time (8.45pm IST), and the third match is scheduled for 7.30pm local time (10:30pm PST).

The tournament will kick off with a grand opening ceremony on 21 September at 1pm local time, followed by the opening game between Durban Wolves and Jo’Burg Bangla Tigers. The second match of the day will see Cape Town Samp Army take on Harare Bolts, while the final game of the day will feature Bulawayo Brave Jaguars against NYS Lagos.

The group stage will consist of 21 matches in total, with each team playing several games across the nine days. The top two teams will face off in Qualifier 1, with the winner going directly to the final. The third and fourth-placed teams will play an Eliminator, and the winner will advance to Qualifier 2 to meet the loser of Qualifier 1. The winner of Qualifier 2 will then play in the final on 29 September.

Nawab Shaji Ul Mulk, founder and chairman of T Ten Global Sports, expressed excitement about the tournament, saying, “Season two of the Zim Afro T10 is definitely going to be bigger and better.

It’s been a month since Tom Cruise wowed the world with his daring stunt at the Paris Olympics closing ceremony.

Now, Casey Wasserman, the LA28 President and Chair, has disclosed just how much Cruise charged for his jaw-dropping 15-minute performance at the grand sporting event.

Casey Wasserman shared insights during a panel discussion.

The performance featured Tom Cruise leaping from the Stade de France, landing amidst an excited crowd, accepting the Olympic flag from Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and gymnast Simone Biles, and making a dramatic exit on a motorcycle.

The segment ended with a stunning pre-recorded sequence that highlighted the upcoming Los Angeles 2028 Games.

Casey Wasserman revealed that featuring Tom Cruise was a strategic decision.

Understanding the need for an exceptional performer for a live TV spectacle, they enlisted renowned producer Ben Winston.

During a Zoom meeting, Tom Cruise showed enthusiasm and insisted on performing all his own stunts.

Casey Wasserman recounted, “Initially, we planned to use a stunt double, but Tom Cruise insisted on doing everything himself.”

The actor’s commitment was evident as he completed filming Mission: Impossible in London, flew to LA for crucial scenes, and performed multiple stunts—without charging any fee.

Casey Wasserman highlighted, “Tom Cruise not only embraced the segment but did it all for free, despite the intricate logistics. His dedication was remarkable, flying from London to LA and back to make this performance happen.”

KARACHI:

The MTV VMAs 2024 red carpet was destined to serve up some unforgettable fashion moments. After all, it’s the same event that gave us Lady Gaga’s meat dress, Gwen Stefani’s fluffy bikini top, and the fever dream that was Miley’s Bangerz era. The theme? Emo goth reigned supreme, and let’s just say the execution was questionable. Last year, every pop girlie was wrapped in some version of a gown. This year, not so much. The gowns were in hiding, replaced by high-low cuts, minis and underthings.

Chappell Roan had been on everyone’s radar for weeks, especially after all the eccentric festival outfits she’s graced us with (Statue of Liberty drag? Perfection). The rising American singer didn’t score an invite to the Grammys last year but still stole the after-party spotlight with her pig-nose look, which doubled as the cover art for her single Good Luck, Babe!. So, naturally, tonight was her moment to solidify her place as a fashion maverick. And what did we get? A brown and swamp green dress, accessorised with a sword. It was very Camelot but as much as we love a renaissance look, it failed to elicit any gasps or whispered “wows”.

 

Dapper dudes steal the show 

But where the women fizzled, the men brought their A-game. Damiano David, who may have you squinting and asking “Who?”, stole the show in a brown three-piece suit with a colour-block tie and a brooch. For the unfamiliar, he’s the frontman of Maneskin, the Italian rock band taking over the world one power ballad at a time. His outfit was ‘50s fifties dapper from Italian house Etro. Hands down, one of the night’s best.

And then there’s DJ Khaled, a man you’d never expect to land on a best-dressed list unless we’re ranking Hawaiian shirts. But the producer proved the doubters wrong, stepping out in a surprisingly chic pink Bottega Veneta shirt and trousers. His signature sunglasses remained, but the man deserves credit where it’s due—he looked great.

Country crooner Teddy Swims also threw his hat into the fashion ring, opting for what appeared to be a maxi skirt (you read that right) and an oversized trench coat covered in black ink designs. It was giving ‘art teacher chic,’ and for some strange reason, it worked.

While everyone else went above and beyond to prove their style chops on the red carpet, Shawn Mendes decided to play it safe, which honestly, felt like a relief amidst all the chaos. In a sleek all-black Dolce & Gabbana suit, he looked casually cool with the open collar adding a relaxed vibe. Not groundbreaking, but sometimes simple is the way to go.

Surprisingly, one woman managed to break through the mediocre red-carpet haze—Paris Hilton. The socialite-turned-DJ-turned-everything-sparkly strutted down the carpet in a chainmail-esque dress. Some might argue that sparkly, sequin dresses are overdone, but Paris added a twist with distressing it with rips and tears in all the right places. It was like the lovechild of a disco ball and an Athenian warrior, courtesy of Celia Kritharioti.

 

Goth brides and tablecloth chic 

The worst outfits of the night seemed to have one thing in common: the grunge emo goth look, and it claimed more victims than it should have. First, we have Camila Cabello, who arrived looking like she’d been shopping for her gown in a haunted mansion. Her black lace Tony Ward Couture gown was topped off with a black tulle veil, making her resemble a goth bride. To complete the vibe, she dyed her hair black again. If that wasn’t enough, Benson Boone and Lenny Kravitz also succumbed to the trend, and let’s just say it wasn’t their best.

Then there was Lil Nas X, who strolled onto the carpet channeling a pink ‘90s superhero—complete with a cropped pink-and-white jacket, matching pants, and a helmet that made him look like he was ready to join the Power Rangers. Bold, yes. Appropriate for a major awards show? That’s debatable. 

While Taylor Swift may have snagged the majority of the night’s awards and made history, a category she didn’t win in was fashion. Someone needs to address the tartan (better known as the tablecloth looking material) monstrosity some call a dress. Styled by Christian Dior, no less, she stepped out in an olive tartan bustier top, black shorts, knee-high boots, and a matching tartan train. She completed the look with leather ties coiling up her arms instead of jewellery. 

Fortunately, her second look of the night—a custom MONSE mini dress—was far better. The sleeveless piece featured a dreamy garden landscape with an alien spaceship hovering overhead. Sequins everywhere and belt-like straps gave the dress a weirdly mesmerising futuristic vibe.

 

Monroe to missed marks 

And what would a red carpet be without a tribute or two? This year, Sabrina Carpenter gave us serious screen siren vibes in a sparkling alabaster gown, clearly a nod to Marilyn Monroe (and Madonna, who wore a similar look 33 years ago). It was elegant, it was classic, and it was a reminder that not everything needs to scream for attention to get it.

Tate McRae opted for a Britney Spears-inspired look, channeling the Princess of Pop’s iconic 2001 VMAs outfit. Her Roberto Cavalli lace mini dress, worn over black underwear, was an edgier take on Britney’s original ensemble. 

On the flip side, Halsey missed the mark entirely with her tribute to Elizabeth Hurley’s 1996 Versace dress. Animal prints are a pet peeve of mine, and her red leopard-print gown with glittering accents only confirmed why. The dress was designed specially for Hurley and hadn’t been worn since.

Have something to add to the story? Share it in the comments below.

 

ISLAMABAD:

Turkmenistan is set to become the first Central Asian country to access the Gwadar Port under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as both countries are about to ink an agreement in this regard.

Pakistan and Turkmenistan are already venturing various joint projects, including TAPI pipeline, railway track and fibre connectivity to connect two regions – South and Central Asia.

Sources told The Express Tribune the government has formed a committee with a task to vet the draft of the agreement to be signed between Port of Gwadar and Port of Turkmenbashi under the CPEC.

In the recent cabinet meeting, the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives minister was assigned a task to oversee the agreement with the support of the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Maritime Affairs.

The agreement shall be placed before the cabinet after it is vetted by the committee and the planning ministry.

According to Ministry of Maritime Affairs the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Defence and Interior have completed the process of due diligence. Besides, the Ministry of Law & Justice has also vetted the draft MoU after making minor changes.

The Ministry of Maritime Affairs informed the cabinet that the objective of the arrangement was to establish regional and international cooperation to utilise the potential capacities of the two ports for transit of goods and containers.

The ministry sought the approval of the cabinet for signing the Memorandum of Understanding between the port authorities of the two countries.

Gwadar Port Operations

In the cabinet meeting, a committee was formed to consider the approval of 50% public sector imports from Gwadar Port.

The committee included the ministers for commerce, maritime affairs and economic affairs and the secretaries for commerce, finance, industries and production, national food security and research, power and maritime affairs.

The committee shall review the proposal prepared by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, taking into account the financial, commercial, logistical, transportation cost and consumer price implications of the proposal. The committee shall also consider the views of the divisions concerned.

ISLAMABAD:

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal raised objections to the formation of a National Digital Commission and the Pakistan Digital Authority, instead called for using the current available infrastructure and taking advantage of innovation in the scientific field.

The ministers along with Minister of State for Information Technology (IT) Shaza Fatima jointly chaired a meeting of the Committee for Digital Nation Pakistan, constituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. The committee received a briefing about the proposed Pakistan Digital Authority.

Finance Minister Aurangzeb said that creating committees upon committees would not serve the purposed, adding no matter how many new institutions were established, nothing would happen.

Iqbal said that it took two years for a new institution to become fully functional. He cited the examples of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which continued without any authority and attracted $25 billion investment in three years.

He suggested that all the work should be done within the existing infrastructure. “We have to take advantage of innovation and change,” Iqbal told the meeting. “We built modern technology institutions during our previous term. If we do not adopt modern technology, we will be left behind,” he added.

Earlier, in a briefing on the Pakistan Digital Authority, Shaza Fatima said that how a data authority could be created in the presence of the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) because as per law, NADRA would monitor digital identity.

The IT secretary said that there were two main challenges related to data: what were the guidelines for data transfer, data privacy and cyber security and who could access NADRA data to what extent and at what level the data could be used.

The finance minister underscored the importance of taking the private sector forward in order to withdraw the government from every initiative. He said that the function of the Law Department was to assist and support the government and not to dictate how the government should operate.

ISLAMABAD:

The country’s power regulator has slapped a fine of Rs10 million on K-Electric (KE)—the power utility that supplies electricity to Karachi—for “lack of safety measures/culture” which resulted in the death of a person within its service territory during FY 2022-23.

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) directed KE to pay the fine in the designated bank of the authority within a period of 15 days from the date of issuance of the order.

NEPRA further directed KE to give a compensation of Rs3.5 million to the family of the victim along with a job to the next of kin. “Further, the Licensee (KE) shall submit documentary evidence of its compliance in this regard to the satisfaction of the authority within a period of two months,” it added.

On August 30, 2023, NEPRA had served a show cause notice to KE for violating performance standards, distribution code, power safety code, and other applicable documents after reporting of 33 fatal incidents within its service territory during FY 2022-23.

The company submitted its response on September 14, 2023. The authority considered the response of the licensee and decided to provide an opportunity for a hearing to KE that was held on May 13, 2024, wherein, the KE CEO along with his team made some submission to the authority.

In view of the submissions of the company, the evidence available on record, and provisions of relevant NEPRA laws and terms and conditions of distribution license issued to the licensee, the authority rejected the response of the KE.

After reviewing inquiry reports submitted by the company, the regulator noted that out of 33 fatalities, the fatality of Muhammad Aslam occurred due to a lack of safety measures/culture in the KE’s service territory, as per the order issued by NEPRA on Wednesday.

After getting information pertaining to each case, NEPRA carried out an evaluation of all relevant records including the internal inquiry reports submitted by the licensee itself on the 33 fatalities.

As per the decision, the root cause of the accident was non-adherence to the safety SOPs, by KE. “The fatality of the victim could have been avoided if proper isolation of the HT/LT (high tension/low tension) system was ensured before executing the work.

“Further, the PQC (product quality control) staff of the KE did not supervise the site which led to the demise of the victim. Moreover, the execution of the work was carried out in an unplanned and haphazard manner which is also a reason for the occurrence of this fatal accident.”

Nepra spokesperson said it found no negligence on KE’s part in 32 out of 33 electrocution-related incidents that occurred in Karachi between July 2022 and June 2023.

ISLAMABAD:

Pakistan is hosting the 23rd Meeting of Ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States responsible for Foreign Economic and Trade Activities on Thursady, said an official handout.

“This important event, where Ministers of SCO countries dealing with External Trade and Commerce would be representing their countries, will be chaired by Pakistan’s Commerce Minister, Mr. Jam Kamal Khan,” it added.

Pakistan invited trade ministers from SCO member states, including India. However, New Delhi will attend the meeting virtually as Indian trade minister will not travel to Islamabad.

The Ministerial meeting is the culmination of preparatory work undertaken during a series of Meetings of the Commission of Senior Officials (CSO) of SCO Member States ending in Islamabad on 10th and 11th September 2024.

In their deliberations, the SCO Ministers will focus on ways to bolster regional cooperation for enhancing trade, advancing sustainable development and promoting connectivity among SCO countries for enhancing economic prosperity in the region.

Deliberations and outcome of this Ministerial meeting will be discussed and approved during the upcoming meeting of Council of Heads of Government scheduled to take place on 15-16 October 2024 in Islamabad.

Pakistan is hosting these meetings in its capacity as the incumbent Chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government, the second highest SCO forum that deals with all economic, trade, social, cultural and humanitarian issues as well as the personnel and budgetary matters of the organization.

The SCO represents a significant cross-regional bloc, accounting for nearly half of the world’s population and a substantial portion of global GDP. Strengthening trade and economic ties within this framework is crucial for addressing shared challenges and tapping into the vast economic opportunities the region offers.

As the host and Chair of SCO-CHG, Pakistan is dedicated to using this platform to promote enhanced economic cooperation within the region.

With its strategic geographical location and growing trade potential, Pakistan seeks to play a facilitating role in shaping the future of regional commerce and trade partnerships for the mutual benefit of the people of SCO countries.

SCO is a Eurasian political, economic, and security alliance, founded in 2001 by China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.

It has since expanded to include India, Pakistan, and Iran as full members, with Afghanistan, Belarus, and Mongolia as observers, and other countries as dialogue partners.

The SCO is often seen as a counterbalance to Western alliances like NATO and plays a significant role in fostering regional cooperation.

ISLAMABAD:

The federal government on Wednesday withdrew its decision to give a quarter of a billion rupees to a private foundation for an infrastructure project, which it had earlier allocated in a non-transparent manner while using the inflation-bitten taxpayers’ money.

The government had allocated funds for The Noorani Foundation (TNF) without setting any criteria and despite the fact that social sector was not the responsibility of the centre under the constitution.

Last month, the Ministry of Finance sanctioned a grant of Rs250 million for The Noorani Foundation for the construction of a school building.

The funding was approved under grant number 45, which is meant for subsidies and miscellaneous expenditures of the federal government.

However, on Wednesday, the government decided to roll back the decision, saving Rs250 million of taxpayers.

“The government has reversed the decision to release money for The Noorani Foundation,” Qumar Abbasi, spokesman for the Ministry of Finance, told The Express Tribune.

In order to accommodate the private party, the finance ministry created a new category in the budget and instructed the Accountant General of Pakistan Revenue (AGPR) to create a new vendor number in public accounts to facilitate the payment.

The finance ministry spokesman said that Rs250 million had been earmarked in the fiscal year 2024-25 budget for The Noorani Foundation for the construction of a boarding school in Swabi.

He stressed that the Public Finance Management Act, 2019 empowered the ministry to give the grant.

The federal government may approve grant-in-aid for individual, public or private institutes, local bodies and other non-political institutions and associations as it may consider appropriate in the manner as may be prescribed, said Qumar.

Responding to a question on whether the special treatment was given to other private organisations as well, the spokesman pointed out that the grant had also been extended to the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides Associations, Iqbal Academy of Pakistan, Al-Shifa Eye Trust Rawalpindi and Fatimid Foundation Karachi.

In the current fiscal year, the grant has been allocated for the Pakistan Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hassan Abdal Cadet College and Nazriya Pakistan Council Trust, said Qumar.

The spokesman added that Rs250 million had been set aside for the general public good to provide educational services in Swabi, a relatively less developed district.

All these allocations largely fall in the areas of health and education, a priority of the government in social sector spending.

However, under the constitution, the social sector is not the responsibility of the cash-starved federal government. Only provincial governments can provide such grants to the social sector.

The spokesman said that the Ministry of Finance had not yet released the budgetary allocation for The Noornai Foundation and the decision “has now been reversed”.

Nonetheless, the finance ministry’s earlier decision to set aside Rs250 million for a subject that is not its responsibility and for a private entity raises a question mark over the effective utilisation of taxpayers’ money.

The salaried class is forced to pay up to 39% of its gross earnings in taxes.

Sources said that the Ministry of Finance did not determine any criteria for giving money to a privately run organisation. The money was allocated without getting approval of any federal government entity like the Central Development Working Party.

There are thousands of charitable organisations working in Pakistan but their trustees run them by seeking donations from rich private organisations and individuals. It is rare that taxpayers’ money is given for a private infrastructure project.

TNF version

“Since fundraising in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was proving difficult, The Noorani Foundation requested the government for a one-time grant to construct the school,” said Ali Ahmed, spokesperson for the foundation. He said that the government approved Rs250 million.

The cost of the school in Swabi is estimated at Rs600 million, as compared to a similar school in the government sector, eg, Danish of Rs5 billion, said Ahmed.

The spokesman added that the commitment of a significant portion of the remaining funds has been arranged from other donors and the construction of the school is expected to start shortly.

Ahmed said that the one-time government grant has not yet been received by the foundation.

He further said that the Rashid Mehmood Welfare Organisation after seeing the school in Faisalabad offered land to the foundation for a similar school in their socio-economic compound in Swabi.

ISLAMABAD:

The government on Wednesday withdrew a proposal to establish a new Export Processing Zone (EPZ) in Balochistan, complying with a condition set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), highlighting the global lender’s growing influence over the country’s economic decision-making.

The Ministry of Industry and Production had initially pushed for the creation of the EPZ to promote copper exports from Siah Diq, Balochistan.

However, the Ministry of Finance opposed the plan during a meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), leading to its withdrawal.

The ECC meeting was chaired by Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb.

In the same meeting, the ECC approved an additional Rs1 billion in funds for hosting the heads of government from the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in Islamabad on October 15-16.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs informed the ECC that the event, a significant diplomatic gathering, could not be held within its regular budget of Rs1.7 billion.

The total cost of the summit is estimated at Rs1.5 billion, and the Ministry of Finance had already provided Rs500 million.

The ECC allocated Rs300 million for accommodating foreign leaders, Rs200 million for transportation, and Rs100 million for stationery.

Rs200 million was earmarked for publicity, while a major portion, Rs400 million, will be paid to an event management company.

A proposal to designate the Siah Diq copper mine area as an EPZ was also brought before the ECC.

However, opposition from the Ministry of Finance, based on an IMF stipulation under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), forced the withdrawal of the plan.

The Express Tribune has reported that govt accepted the IMF’s condition that Pakistan is prohibited from establishing any new special economic or export processing zones, and all existing incentives will expire by 2035, regardless of the operational status of projects.

This condition is a significant hurdle for the government, which had planned to establish an EPZ on the land of the closed Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). Jamil Qureshi, Secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), had stated earlier on Wednesday that there were no restrictions on the creation of new EPZs, emphasising their importance in boosting exports.

However, hours after Qureshi’s statement on X, formerly Twitter, the government withdrew the summary of the EPZ.

Government sources revealed that the IMF has mandated that no new Special Economic Zones (SEZ) or EPZs can be created at either the federal or provincial levels.

Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has refused to accept this condition, according to reports.

The ECC also reviewed a summary from the Ministry of Energy regarding a change in the gas supply priority order.

It approved a proposal to amend the current gas allocation, placing gas usage for industrial processes as a top priority, alongside domestic and commercial sectors.

Industries using captive power were relegated to a lower priority, alongside the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) sector, to encourage a shift toward the national power grid.

This measure would benefit industries using gas in their processes, elevating them to the highest priority category, according to the Ministry of Finance.

Previously, industries were using cheaper gas to generate in-house power for consumption and selling surplus power to the government.

However, under an IMF condition, the government is working to phase out gas supplies to captive power plants by increasing gas prices and placing them at the bottom of the gas supply chain.

Additionally, the ECC exempted the contract award for the Kalkatak-Chitral road project from international competitive bidding, granting it to South Korea, which is financing the project.

According to a finance ministry handout, the ECC reviewed a summary from the Ministry of Communications concerning the “Kalkatak-Chitral 48 km Road Project – Procurement of Civil Works.”

It authorised the Ministry of Communications and the National Highway Authority to proceed with procurement under Public Procurement Rule-5, which allows the government to exempt projects from competitive bidding.

The ECC also reviewed a proposal for funds amounting to Rs238.42 million to clear arrears from wheat subsidy schemes dating back to 2015-16, as requested by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

Following the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, the ECC directed the ministry to arrange the funds from its available budgetary resources to settle the long-pending claims.

Furthermore, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research sought a loan of Rs656 million for the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) to pay employee salaries and pensions.

After deliberation, the ECC recommended considering the entity for dissolution and directed that the case be submitted to the Cabinet Committee for Rightsizing of the federal government.