ECC sanctions Rs459.5m to deal with locust threat.

ISLAMABAD -- The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet on Thursday approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs459.5 million for coping with the emergency of desert locust threat in Pakistan.

The ECC has directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to brief the ECC in its next meeting on the measures taken so far, including the areas treated so far with spray and pesticides, to control the threat of desert locust in different parts of the country.

The direction was issued in a meeting of the ECC held with Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh in the chair.

For coping with the emergency of desert locust threat in Pakistan, the ECC approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs. 459.5 million on a proposal moved by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research.

The ECC was informed that nine districts of the country are affected by the locust and the Department of Plant protection has been given the responsibility of dealing with the threat. So far 170,000 hectares have been cleared and the Ministry has been provided updates on daily basis. The ECC also directed that in the next meeting of the ECC a detailed briefing on the control of the threat be presented in the ECC.

The ECC also approved the 'Enactment of Pakistan Single Window Bill, 2019' to be sent to the Cabinet. The enactment of the Bill will highly facilitate the businesses in Pakistan. The ECC was apprised that 42 government agencies are involved in granting approvals for different business. Through this Single window, all parties involved in trade and transport can lodge standardized information and documents with a single-entry point to fulfil all import, export and transit related regulatory requirements. The Customs Wing in FBR developed NSW Roadmap and implementation Framework, in April 2018 with the help of International Experts. This initiative is expected to improve Pakistan's rating at ease of doing business index. It is expected that the project...

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