The federal cabinet, led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, convened on Monday and endorsed several significant measures, including filing a review petition against the Supreme Court’s decision to lift the ban on monosodium glutamate (MSG) imports.
The cabinet acknowledged that a panel of experts had deemed MSG (Ajino Motu) safe for human consumption. It also approved the renewal of MoUs for Pakistan Chairs at renowned global universities such as Cambridge University, St. Antony’s College at Oxford, the University of Jordan, and Peking University.
Key decisions included:
- Appointment of Mumtaz Shah and Ahmed Farooqui to the Board of Governors of the Center of Excellence in Mineralogy, Quetta.
- In-principle approval for establishing the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority.
- Approval of the National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy 2024, as proposed by the Interior Ministry.
- Adjustments to the jurisdictions of special courts in Quetta and Khuzdar per Sindh High Court orders, including reassignments under the Lawyers Welfare Act 2023.
Prime Minister’s Address
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif noted a significant reduction in inflation, which he said had reached a 70-month low. He compared the inflation rate, which was 3.5% in 2018, rose to 4.9%, but had recently started to decline. The PM emphasized that this trend could help reduce poverty and interest rates.
Discussing the impact of protests, he criticized sit-ins for creating panic and chaos, leading to casualties among police and Rangers, and initially causing a stock market crash. However, he noted the market regained stability once the protests subsided.
The PM stressed the need to transition from inflation control to economic growth. He announced the resumption of sugar exports, projecting $500 million in revenue without causing price increases. He also praised the military’s role in eliminating smuggling from Afghanistan.
PIA’s European Operations Revival
The PM lauded Defense and Aviation Minister Khawaja Asif and his team for obtaining European aviation authority approval for resuming Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe. He highlighted that this development resolves a key hurdle in PIA’s privatization process. The PM also noted the damage caused by previous controversies over fake pilot licenses.
