Cabinet directs provincial govts to ensure payments to sugarcane famers

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet Tuesday discussed issues of sugarcane growers and directed the provincial governments to fulfill their responsibility towards ensuring prompt payments at notified rates to the farmers by the sugar mills immediately.

The meeting of the cabinet was chaired by Prime Min-ister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister’s Office, a press release said.

The cabinet approved signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of information between the Committee on Television and Radio of the Government of Public of Tajikistan and Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage of Pakistan.

The signing of MoU for cooperation in the field of labour and training between Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman was also approved.

It approved singing of arrangements on mutual coo-peration in the field of justice administration between the Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan and Ministry of Ju-stice of the Republic of Tun-isia.

The cabinet approved enforcement of the Costs of Litigation Act, 2017 with effect from March 1, 2018.

It also approved a proposal for repatriation of Muhammad Naseem, Judge Banking Court-I Peshawar to Peshawar High Court Peshawar and appointment of Khawaja Wahij-ud-Din, District and Session Judge as Judge Banking Court-I Peshawar, as recommended by the chief justice of Peshawar High Court.

The cabinet also approved a proposal to appoint Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi, District and Sessions Judge, as Judge Special Court (Anti-Terrorism-I) Islamabad.

Proposal for notifying Maximum Retail Price of various drugs as well as reduction in prices of drugs in line with the Drug Pricing Policy was also approved.

Appointment of Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain against the post of CEO, Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan for a period of three months was approved.

The cabinet directed Ministry of National Health Services to expedite the process of regular appointment of CEO of the authority.

Approval of appointment of members of Board of Directors of Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSOCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited was also accorded.

Approval in principle for legislation in respect of establishment of “Institute of Science and Technology Bahawalpur” was also accorded by the cabinet.

Earlier, prime minister offered to connect CPEC with six approved routes of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) to enhance region’s connectivity.

This would become a conduit linking Eurasian landmass, China, Russia and Central Asia with the Arabian Sea, the Prime Minister said in his meeting with Secretary General of SCO Rashid Alimov here at the PM Office. This is the first visit of SCO Secretary General after attainment of Pakistan’s full membership of SCO.