ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved the second international wheat tender 2022 for the import of 110,000 metric tons of wheat to stave off shortages in the country as it allowed the release of banned luxury goods imported into the country until June 30. It also approved a policy to import goods of Afghan origin against Pakistani rupees.
The decision was taken during a meeting held in Islamabad on Tuesday with Finance Minister Miftah Ismail in the chair.
Regarding another summary on the declaration of National Disease Emergency on account of the Emergence of Lumpy Skin disease in Pakistan, the ECC directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to prepare a cost-sharing plan after convening a meeting with concerned provincial secretaries and NDMA.
The ECC also granted one-time special permission for the release of those consignments which have landed at ports or airports in Pakistan on or before the 30th of last month.
Ministry of National Food Security and Research submitted a summary for the award of the second international wheat procurement tender 2022, which opened on July 1, for the import of 500,000 metric tons (MT) of wheat.
Noting the lower price of wheat in the international market, the ECC approved a bid-offer of M/s Cargill Int. PTE /Cargill Agro Foods Pakistan to import 110,000 MT of wheat at a rate of $439.40/MT. The move is expected to cost the country $48.34 million.
Moreover, the ECC also approved a summary to purchase and reserve 120,000 MT of wheat for Afghanistan because of the situation there and at the request of the World Food Program (WFP). The wheat will be supplied from the imported wheat stock of Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) at the latest import price. The amount of wheat along with cost and incidentals will be charged in US dollars, it was decided.
Furthermore, it was decided that the wheat would be grounded into flour and packed into bags at Pakistani mills and then supplied to Afghanistan. In this regard, the ban on the export of flour to Afghanistan will be relaxed to the 120,000 MT which will be acquired for Afghanistan in the fiscal year 2022-23.
In view of the hardship case of timber importers, as the consignments were supplied against contracts months ago and the shipments have already arrived, the ECC decided that the date of implementation of IPO 2022 regarding the import of timber and wood may be suspended till the 31st of next month.
The ECC also approved another summary of the Ministry of Commerce to amend Import policy Order 2022 to allow the import of goods of Afghan origin against Pak Rupee.
