Islamabad: The meeting of the Federal Cabinet was held in Islamabad with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif presiding. Critical decisions were made across various sectors, including commerce, education, and law.

According to Radio Pakistan, the federal cabinet has approved the filing of a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the ban on the import of monosodium glutamate. This move comes after a committee of experts, formed under the Prime Minister’s directives, declared the additive safe for human consumption. The committee comprised representatives from several key institutions, including the Pakistan Scientific and Industrial Research, National Agriculture Research Center, and others.

In another decision, the cabinet approved the renewal of memoranda of understanding for Pakistan Chairs at prominent universities such as the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford. This was recommended by the Ministry of Federal Education and Technical Training. Additionally, Dr. Ha
bib-ur-Rehman and Dr. Kamran Ansari were nominated as subject experts in the Board of Governors at the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore. Further nominations included Dr. Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Farooqi for the University of Balochistan.

The cabinet also granted in-principle approval to establish the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority, alongside the approval of the National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy 2024, as recommended by the Ministry of Interior.

Legal reforms were also on the agenda, with changes approved in the jurisdiction of Special Courts for Customs, Taxation, and Anti-Smuggling in Quetta and Khuzdar. Additionally, the cabinet authorized Additional Sessions Judges and relevant courts to hear cases under the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act 2023, following recommendations from the Ministry of Law and Justice and various High Courts.