Dasu terror attack: $2.58m compensation approved for Chinese nationals

ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee of the Cabinet (ECC) Thursday approved a $2.58 million compensation package for the Chinese nationals who had lost their lives in Dasu terror attack.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb presided over the committee meeting at the Finance Division, an official announcement made by the government said.

Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister for Industries and Production Rana Tanveer Hussain, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, governor SBP, chairman SECP, federal secretaries, and other senior officials of the relevant ministries attended the meeting. The committee approved Rs70.484 billion for the Ministry of Water Resources as cover for hydropower projects.

Two summaries seeking $8 million in government support for Roosevelt Hotel in New York and Rs184.509 million for the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA) were also approved.

The committee approved a summary presented by the Ministry of Aviation seeking permission to utilize $8 million available with the National Bank of Pakistan to pay severance and other operational expenses of Roosevelt Hotel.

The cabinet also allowed a request of the Industries and Production Division for release of Rs2,159.53 million from the already approved budgeted allocation to pay the gas bills of Pakistan Steel Mill (PSM).

The committee also considered a summary of the Finance Division to make amendments to the policy on equity investment abroad to facilitate the IT exports.

Further, the ECC approved proposals for technical supplementary grants, including Rs1,027.378 million to the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Authority for clearing matured liabilities of the contractors, Rs6.2 million to the Ministry of Interior to be paid to the family of deceased, Rs54.490 million to the Ministry of Interior as surrendered by Ministry of National Food Security and Research for the project of ICT Administration, Islamabad, Rs12,036.103 million to the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination, in favour of Federal Directorate of Immunization (FDI), Rs2,217 million to the Power Division for development expenditures during current fiscal year, Rs184.509 million to the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority, $2.58 million and Rs2.5 million to the Ministry of Water Resources as compensation packages for Chinese and local casualties at Dasu Hydropower Project and Rs70,484 million to the Ministry of Water Resources as rupee cover for hydropower projects.