The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has approved an additional allocation of Rs1 billion for hosting the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, which is scheduled 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, serving as the chair of the SCO Council of Heads of Government (SCO-CHG) for 2024, would be responsible for organizing the summit. The MoFA highlighted that hosting this significant event would reinforce Pakistan’s essential role as a key regional player dedicated to promoting peace, dialogue, and diplomacy. It would also enhance the country’s prestige and reputation for successfully organizing such a major event after a long hiatus.
The MoFA noted that the preparations for the summit require meticulous planning and adequate funding. It had previously received Rs1.631 billion (Non-ERE) for the fiscal year 2023-24 and an additional Rs1.732 billion (Non-ERE) for the fiscal year 2024-25 under Demand No 48 for the “Foreign Affairs Division.” However, this budget allocation was designated for 14 spending units at headquarters, indicating that the MoFA could not cover the costs of hosting the summit solely with its regular budget while also managing routine operational expenses for the fiscal year 2024-25.
To facilitate a successful conference, 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 instructed a summary for a transfer of Rs1 billion to be presented to the ECC.
During discussions, the ECC was informed that Pakistan would welcome 11 heads of state to the summit. While reviewing the anticipated expenses outlined by the MoFA, the forum raised questions about the rationale behind the estimates. Acknowledging the importance of the summit and the limited preparation time, the ECC agreed to the additional Rs1 billion funding, contingent upon the MoFA providing detailed information regarding accommodation, event management contracts, and any unforeseen expenses to the Finance Division.
The forum also noted that the MoFA’s proposal had been submitted late, effectively seeking ex-post facto approval. Ultimately, the ECC approved the funding with instructions for the MoFA to share all relevant expenditure details with the Finance Ministry. The MoFA has since complied by providing the necessary information to address these concerns.
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