ECC Cuts SCO Summit Bullet-Proof Vehicle Budget to Rs6.6 Billion
ISLAMABAD, PAKISTAN — WEB DESK: Pakistan’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) has approved Rs6.6 billion for the purchase of 30 bullet-proof vehicles for visiting heads of state at next year’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit, nearly halving an initial Rs12.6 billion funding request.
The ECC, chaired by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, considered a Cabinet Division request for a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) of Rs12.6 billion for vehicles to be used during the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit, which Pakistan is scheduled to host in September 2027.
After deliberations, the committee approved Rs6.6 billion for 30 vehicles and told the Cabinet Division to conduct an “in-depth need analysis” before seeking money for any additional requirement.
Original Request Sought 70 Vehicles
According to the Express Tribune, the Cabinet Division’s original proposal involved the purchase of 70 bullet-proof vehicles.
The proposed fleet comprised 35 Mercedes 680 S45-class bullet-proof vehicles, 29 BMW X5 vehicles and six Toyota Land Cruiser LC300s.
The Finance Ministry has officially confirmed that the Cabinet Division sought Rs12.6 billion, while the ECC ultimately authorised Rs6.6 billion for 30 bullet-proof vehicles.
The official Finance Division statement does not specify in its published summary which models will make up the final 30-vehicle purchase.
That distinction is important because the original 70-vehicle proposal should not be confused with the smaller procurement package actually approved by the ECC.
Funding Request Cut by Nearly Half
The decision represents a Rs6 billion reduction from the amount initially sought by the Cabinet Division.
In percentage terms, the approved Rs6.6 billion is about 47.6% lower than the original Rs12.6 billion request.
The number of vehicles was also reduced from the 70 sought in the original proposal to 30 approved by the committee.
The government has not necessarily ruled out further purchases.
Instead, the ECC directed the Cabinet Division to return to the committee if it believes additional vehicles are required, but only after conducting a detailed assessment and providing justification for the extra demand.
Pakistan to Host SCO Summit in September 2027
The vehicles are intended to provide secure transportation for heads of state expected to attend the SCO Council of Heads of State Summit in September 2027.
The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation brings together major Eurasian states, including Pakistan, China, Russia, India and Central Asian countries.
Hosting a summit involving multiple heads of state requires extensive diplomatic, logistical and security arrangements, including secure transportation.
However, the scale and cost of those arrangements can also attract scrutiny because they involve significant public expenditure.
The ECC’s decision indicates that the government accepted the need for additional secure vehicles but was not prepared to approve the full amount requested without further analysis.
ECC Also Approves Rs5 Billion for Daanish Schools Fund
The SCO vehicle procurement was one of several items considered during Monday’s ECC meeting.
The committee approved Rs5 billion as seed money for the Daanish Schools Authority Fund, to be maintained under an endowment framework.
It also approved the continuation of gas supplies to FatimaFert and Agritech until September 30, 2026, under the existing arrangement.
Meanwhile, a proposal concerning Minimum Indicative Prices for tobacco and revisions to cess rates for FY2026-27 was deferred. The ECC instructed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to return with stronger justification and analysis.
The committee also approved recommendations concerning issues related to the export of donkey meat and hides from the Gwadar Free Zone, subject to safeguards recommended by the ministry.
Further Vehicle Demand Must Be Justified
The most significant aspect of the SCO procurement decision is that the ECC did not simply approve the Cabinet Division’s original request.
Instead, it authorised funding for 30 vehicles and required a fresh needs assessment before any additional public money could be sought.
That leaves open the possibility that the final fleet could eventually exceed 30 vehicles, but any expansion will require another case before the ECC.
For now, the officially approved allocation stands at Rs6.6 billion, compared with the original Rs12.6 billion request.
