Islamabad: The federal cabinet, under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, has approved the National Policy for the Prevention of Violent Extremism 2024, aimed at curbing extremism across the country. The policy was approved on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior.
Key Approvals
- Renewal of MoUs with International Universities
The cabinet approved the renewal of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with several prestigious international institutions, including:- University of Cambridge
- St. Antony’s College, University of Oxford
- University of Jordan
- Peking University, China
- Heidelberg University, Germany
- Appointment of Subject Experts
The cabinet approved the appointment of subject experts to the Boards of Governors of Centers of Excellence:- Dr. Habib ur Rehman and Dr. Kamran Ansari for the University of Engineering and Technology (UET), Lahore.
- Dr. Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Farooqi for the Center of Excellence in Mineralogy at the University of Balochistan, Quetta.
- Creation of Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority
The cabinet gave in-principle approval for the establishment of the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior. - Review of Import Ban on Monosodium Glutamate (Ajinomoto)
The cabinet approved filing a review petition in the Supreme Court of Pakistan regarding the import ban on monosodium glutamate (MSG), based on expert committee findings that declared MSG safe for human consumption. The committee included representatives from:- Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR)
- National Agriculture Research Center (NARC)
- National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST)
- Institute of Food and Nutritional Sciences
- Ministry of National Food Security and Research
- Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority
- Expansion of Jurisdiction of Special Courts
Based on recommendations from the Ministry of Law and Justice and directives from the Sindh High Court, Karachi, the cabinet approved changes in the jurisdiction of special courts. - Implementation of Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act 2023
The cabinet also authorized additional session judges and relevant courts in Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Quetta to hear cases under the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act 2023.
The decisions reflect the government’s focus on national security, judicial reforms, and fostering international academic collaboration.
