ISLAMABAD: The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved an additional Rs1 billion to support the hosting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, set to take place in Pakistan on October 15-16, 2024, as reported by Business Recorder.
On September 11, 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) informed the ECC that Pakistan, as the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (SCO-CHG) for 2024, would host the summit. The MoFA highlighted that this significant event would underscore Pakistan’s pivotal role as a regional player dedicated to peace, dialogue, and diplomacy, while also enhancing the country’s reputation for organizing major international events after a considerable hiatus.
The MoFA noted that hosting the summit requires comprehensive preparations and adequate funding. It had previously received allocations of Rs1.631 billion (Non-ERE) for FY 2023-24 and Rs1.732 billion (Non-ERE) for FY 2024-25 under Demand No 48 for the “Foreign Affairs Division.” However, these funds were allocated for 14 spending units at headquarters, indicating that the MoFA could not manage the summit solely with its regular budget while also covering routine operational expenses for FY 2024-25.
To facilitate a successful summit, the MoFA developed a preliminary hosting plan for the SCO-CHG in Islamabad. Following a recommendation from the Ministry of Finance, the Prime Minister approved the MoFA’s request for additional funds and directed a summary for a transfer of Rs1 billion to be presented to the ECC.
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During discussions, the ECC was informed that Pakistan would host the SCO-CHG summit in Islamabad, with participation from 11 heads of state. While reviewing the anticipated expenses provided by the MoFA in a summary submitted on August 13, 2024, the forum questioned the rationale behind the estimates.
Acknowledging the summit’s significance and the limited preparation time, the ECC approved the Rs1 billion transfer. However, it instructed the MoFA to provide detailed information on accommodation arrangements, contracts with event management companies, and potential unforeseen expenses to the Finance Division.
The ECC noted that the MoFA’s proposal was submitted rather late, effectively seeking ex-post facto approval. Ultimately, the proposal was approved with the condition that the MoFA share all relevant expenditure details with the Finance Ministry, which has since been provided to address the committee’s concerns.
