Federal Cabinet Meeting: Approval of National Policy to Prevent Violent Extremism

The federal cabinet has approved the National Policy to Prevent Violent Extremism 2024, amendments to the jurisdiction of special courts, and a review petition against the Supreme Court's decision to lift the ban on the import of Ajinomoto (monosodium glutamate).

According to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office, reported by the state news agency APP, the meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the PM House.

Key Decisions:

1. Review of Ajinomoto Import Ban:
   The cabinet approved filing a review petition against the Supreme Court's decision to lift the ban on the import of monosodium glutamate. This decision was based on a report by a special committee formed to assess the health impacts of MSG. The report concluded that MSG is safe for human consumption.
   The committee included representatives from institutions like the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, NUST, National Agriculture Research Center, and the Board of Investment, among others.

2. Renewal of MoUs for Pakistan Chairs Abroad:
   The cabinet approved renewing Memorandums of Understanding for Pakistan Chairs at universities including the University of Cambridge, University of Jordan, Peking University in China, and the University of Heidelberg in Germany.

3. Appointments to Centers of Excellence:
   Subject matter experts Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman and Dr. Kamran Ansari were nominated to the Board of Governors for the Center of Excellence at UET Lahore, while Dr. Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Farooqi were nominated for the Center of Excellence in Mineralogy at the University of Balochistan.

4. Formation of Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority:
   The cabinet gave principal approval for establishing the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority on the Interior Ministry's recommendation.

5. Approval of the National Policy to Prevent Violent Extremism 2024:
   The cabinet approved the National Policy to Prevent Violent Extremism 2024, aiming to curb extremist tendencies through strategic measures.

6. Amendments to the Jurisdiction of Special Courts:
   The cabinet approved changes to the jurisdiction of special courts, including customs, taxation, and anti-smuggling courts in Quetta and Khuzdar, based on recommendations from the Balochistan High Court.

7. Lawyers Welfare Act Implementation:
   Additional sessions judges and other courts were empowered to hear cases under the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act 2023, following recommendations from high courts across Pakistan.

Prime Minister's Shehbaz Sharif Remarks:

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif highlighted significant improvements, noting that inflation had dropped to its lowest in 70 months and smuggling to Afghanistan had been nearly eradicated due to strict measures. He pointed out that inflation, which was 3.5% during Nawaz Sharif's tenure in 2018, stood at 4.9% this month, indicating positive trends.

The PM expressed optimism about further improvements in the State Bank’s policy rate, which could alleviate economic burdens on the public.

Background on National Policy to Prevent Violent Extremism:

The previous government, led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), initiated amendments to the policy in 2023. Consultations with over 280 experts were held to identify and counter extremist trends effectively.

The policy emphasizes promoting peace, tolerance, and diversity while protecting marginalized communities. Media platforms will be utilized to counter extremist narratives and foster inclusivity.

Former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah, during a prior briefing, reiterated the government’s commitment to combating terrorism and extremism, emphasizing the need for nationwide consensus among all stakeholders to ensure the policy's successful implementation.