ECNEC approves $1784.93m ‘Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication’

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) Monday approved Emergency Plan for Polio Eradication (3rd revised) at a cost of USD 1784.93 million on Monday.

The sum included a grant of US$1197.93 million from partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI), a loan of US$552 million from the Islamic Development Bank, and a loan of US$35 million from the French Development Agency (AFD).

According to a news release from the finance ministry, Dr. Shamshad Akhtar, the interim Federal Minister for Finance, Revenue, Economic Affairs, and Privatization, presided over the ECNEC meeting.

The Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations & Coordination presented the polio eradication strategy, which calls for the distribution of polio vaccines throughout Pakistan and will be carried out by WHO and UNICEF.

After discussion, the ECNEC increased the project's umbrella PC-1's duration to three years and gave the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) permission to enter into loan agreements on the government of Pakistan's behalf to finance the project in order to achieve the goals of eliminating polio and creating a polio-free Pakistan.

The ECNEC sought project/program review of the Polio Eradication Program and integrated lesson learned in Phase III execution from the Planning Commission and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination.

The ECNEC also instructed a committee to review the re-lending agreements with provinces for funding of projects of a similar sort and make specific recommendations to guarantee proper implementation of the projects. The group would be co-chaired by the Secretaries of Finance and EAD.

The meeting was attended by several senior government officials, including Sami Saeed, Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives; Shahid Ashraf Tarar, Minister for Communications, Maritime Affairs, and Railways; Muhammad Ali, Minister for Power and Petroleum; Ahmad Rasool Bangash, Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Excise & Taxation KPK; Muhammad Younas Dhaga, Minister for Finance, Revenue Sindh; and Amjad Rasheed, Minister for Finance & Revenue Bal.