The meeting of the Federal Cabinet was held in Islamabad today [Monday] with Prime Minster Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in the chair.

The federal cabinet approved the filing of a review petition against the Supreme Court of Pakistan's decision to lift the ban on the import of monosodium glutamate (Ajino Motu) on the recommendation of the Ministry of Commerce.

This decision has been taken in the light of the report of a special committee of experts, which was formed on the directives of the Prime Minister's Office to examine the effects of monosodium glutamate on human health.

In its report, the committee has declared monosodium glutamate safe for human health. The committee included representatives from Pakistan Scientific and Industrial Research, National Agriculture Research Center, National University of Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food and Nutritional Sciences, Federal Ministry of National Food Security and Research, Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority and Board of Investment.

The federal cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Federal Education and Technical Training, approved the renewal of the memoranda of understanding regarding Pakistan Chairs at the University of Cambridge, St. Antony's College, University of Oxford, University of Jordan, Peking University China, and University of Heidelberg Germany.

The federal cabinet also approved the nomination of Dr. Habib-ur-Rehman and Dr. Kamran Ansari as subject experts in the Board of Governors of the Center of Excellence at University of Engineering and Technology in Lahore. While, nominations of Dr. Mumtaz Muhammad Shah and Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Farooqi were approved as subject experts in the Board of Governors at the Center of Excellence Center of Excellence in Mineralogy in University of Balochistan.

The federal cabinet also gave in-principle approval to the proposal for the establishment of the Islamabad Central Business District Development Authority. While, approval for National Prevention of Violent Extremism Policy 2024 was also accorded, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Interior.

The Federal Cabinet, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice and in light of the orders of the Honorable Sindh High Court, Karachi, approved the change in the limitations and jurisdiction of the Special Courts.

Approval for the change in the jurisdiction of the Special Courts for Customs, Taxation and Anti-Smuggling, in Quetta and Khuzdar was also accorded by the Federal Cabinet.

The Cabinet also approved the authorization of Additional Sessions Judges and other relevant courts to hear cases under the Lawyers Welfare and Protection Act 2023, on the recommendation of the Ministry of Law and Justice and in light of the orders of the honorable Peshawar, Lahore, Islamabad, Sindh, Karachi and Balochistan High Courts.