ECC approves Rs1.09bn for luxury executive jet for army

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Wednesday approved a supplementary grant of Rs1.094 billion for the induction of a luxury executive jet, a Lineage L-1000 aircraft, into the army fleet.

The ECC, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, also approved supplementary grants worth around Rs380 billion, including Rs275 billion for five major water projects facing financial constraints and nearly Rs84 billion for the armed forces.

According to an official statement, the ECC approved three summaries submitted by the Defence Division. Besides the allocation for the executive jet, it approved Rs54 billion under three heads of the Defence Services project.

The latter amount includes more than Rs31 billion for the Special Security Divisions of North and South (SSD-N and SSD-S), Rs11.88 billion for various Pakistan Navy projects and Rs10 billion for internal security duties and allowances.

The committee also approved Rs29.139 billion for Project Istaqlal. The official statement said the allocations were aimed at meeting essential operational requirements and supporting national security priorities.

Separately, the ECC approved supplementary grants of Rs275 billion for five major water sector projects being implemented by the Ministry of Water Resources but facing financial constraints.

The projects include the Diamer-Bhasha Dam, Mohmand Dam, Greater Karachi Water Supply (K-IV), Chashma Right Bank Canal and Kacchi Canal. The funds will be released gradually in line with Wapda's requirements under its payment plan for project implementation.

The government had allocated around Rs103 billion for these projects in the 2026-27 budget. However, Wapda had raised concerns that the allocation was insufficient to meet implementation requirements.

Wapda Chairman Muhammad Saeed had told a parliamentary panel that the funds were inadequate and that his requests for additional financing had been approved by the prime minister and the Ministry of Finance.

In June, the federal government had secured around Rs1.035 trillion in additional funds from the four provinces outside the National Finance Commission to meet strategic national requirements, including those related to the water sector and national security.

The ECC also allowed the continuation of gas supply to two Punjab-based fertiliser plants, Fatima and Agritech, until December 31, subject to availability.

In another decision, the committee approved Rs3.71 billion for the Frontier Corps Balochistan (North) to meet helicopter maintenance requirements, following a request from the Narcotics Control Division.