Govt approves policy to curb extremism

Cabinet amends jurisdictions of special courts, PM says protests caused huge economic losses

ISLAMABAD:

The federal cabinet approved on Monday the National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy, 2024, and amendment to the jurisdiction of special courts in line with the orders of the Sindh High Court (SHC) and the Balochistan High Court (BHC).

The cabinet met here with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in the chair. On the recommendation of commerce ministry, the cabinet authorised the filing of a review petition against the Supreme Court's decision to ban the import of monosodium glutamate, commonly known as Chinese salt or Ajinomoto.

The decision was taken in light of a report of the experts' special committee that was formed to monitor the impact of monosodium glutamate on human health. The report termed the monosodium glutamate safe for human health.

The cabinet gave approval to the Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy on the recommendation of the interior ministry. Another ministry proposal for establishing the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority was also approved in principle.

On a proposal from the law ministry the cabinet approved amendment to the jurisdictions of special courts in line with the orders of the SHC. Similarly another proposal to amend the jurisdiction of special courts—customs, taxation and anti-smuggling – in Quetta and Khuzdar, was also approved.

Similarly, on proposals of the law ministry and in line with the orders of all the five high courts, the cabinet authorised the additional session judges and other relevant courts to hear cases under lawyers welfare and protection act 2023.

The cabinet, on the proposal of the education ministry, gave the go-ahead to the renewal of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with the Cambridge University, Saint Antony's College of Oxford University, Jordan University, Pecking University, China, Heidelberg University, and Pakistan Chairs in Germany.

Furthermore, the cabinet, on the recommendation of the education ministry approved nomination of Dr Habibur Rehman and Dr Kamran Ansari as subject experts in the board of governors of the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) Lahore.

The cabinet also approved the nomination of Dr Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr Muhammad Ahmed Farooqui as subject experts in board of governors of the Centre for Excellence in Mineralogy, University of Balochistan, Quetta.

Addressing the cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz praised his economic team, highlighting the country's progress amid stringent anti-smuggling measures, plummeting inflation, and a doubling of revenue collection.

"Today the inflation rate is at 70-month low of 4.9% [from 7.2% in October] which is beyond imagination," he said. He added that the government would have to proceed towards growth with a focused approach to improve gross domestic product ratio, exports and special economic zones.

"All these indicators are critical as inflation is the only tool that aggravates poverty and diminishes poor man's purchasing power parity," he said. "Drop in inflation will yield propitious results as the State Bank [of Pakistan (SBP)], after its meeting, will reduce policy rate which is its prerogative," he said.

He pointed out that protests held previously caused huge economic and property losses to the nation. "The Pakistan Stock Exchange [PSX] also crashed from its highest trading level but after de-escalation of the situation at D-Chowk it bounced back and recouped the previous losses," he said.

The prime minister also noted that the government had managed to achieve more revenue collection than the previous year. Shehbaz emphasised that enforcement was the only tool in the short-term to ensure revenue collection.

He mentioned that earlier, due to soaring inflation, he guardedly allowed 790,000 tonnes of sugar export that not only helped stabilise the commodity prices, but also resulted in a further decline in its prices. "It will provide the country an opportunity to earn half a billion dollars from sugar exports."

The prime minister underlined that smuggling had gone to zero due to the army's complete enforcement and support. Previously, he added, there were multiple law-enforcement agencies on the borders but the current stringent regime remained an uphill task for them.

Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the need for the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to deploy competent enforcement teams to achieve the revenue collection targets. "This is how nations were built," the prime minister added.

Shehbaz congratulated Aviation and Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and his team for achieving landmark success as the European aviation regulator lifted the ban on Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flights to Europe after more than four years.

Shehbaz regretted that the former aviation minister's irresponsible statement embarrassed the country and cast negative impact on the national economy. He also praised former aviation minister Khawaja Saad Rafique and his team for making efforts for this cause.

(WITH INPUT FROM APP)