International agreements: All ministries asked to do homework carefully

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan has said that the federal cabinet has asked all ministries to do their homework carefully before signing international agreements in order to avoid legal troubles.
Giving a briefing here on decisions taken by the federal cabinet on Tuesday, Dr Awan said the cabinet was informed that billions of rupees were spent in international litigations from national exchequer that increased from $6 million in 2016 to $45 million this year. She said an amount of 100 million dollars as fee has been paid during the last five years while $10 million is to be paid this month as international legal fees.
The Prime Minister directed Attorney General of Pakistan that all ministries should carefully do their homework before signing international agreements in order to avoid legal troubles.
Dr Awan said Prime Minister Imran Khan also directed to evolve a long-term policy in coordination with provinces to control inflation in the country. He said the cabinet approved taking measures for the facilitation of Pakistani citizens detained abroad on various charges. She said the Prime Minister directed to bring back Pakistani citizens from Malaysia after arranging required funding for that purpose.
She said the cabinet also directed establishment of low-priced bazaars and availability of essential items at Utility Stores outlets to facilitate common people during Ramazan. Dr Awan said that supply chain mechanism of utility stores providing maximum relief to the poor by introducing subsidy on 19 food items has been broken somehow and the government has taken notice of it and ensured the rectification of the process and asked MD Utility Stores to look into the matter.
Awan said the cabinet approved appointment of Major General Umar Ahmed Bukhari as Director General of Rangers in Sindh.
The federal cabinet took up the issue of price hike in medicines and assured to bring forth the reforms through which prices can be regularised. The health minister briefed the cabinet regarding reforms effected in the drug industry to minimise the prices, she added.
Separately, the federal cabinet on Tuesday approved the appointment of Minister of State for Overseas Pakistanis Zulfiqar Bukhari as the chairman of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation (PTDC), announced the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development through a tweet.
A summary for extension of Regular Public Transport (RPT), charter, aerial work licence of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) was also presented before the cabinet for its approval.
The government sought exemption of equipment donated by narcotics control of China to Pakistan, whereas, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was also approved between National School of Public Policy (NSPP) and National Management Institute (NMI) of Egypt.