Prime Minister Mir Zafarullah Khan Jamali on Wednesday directed stern action against importers and dealers of pesticides involved in adulteration.
He expressed serious concern over the reports of adulteration in pesticides, which were causing damage to country's agriculture and directed action against all those involved in the criminal activity.
The Prime Minister's observation followed a presentation on the enforcement mechanism for curbing the menace of adulteration in pesticides by the National Reconstruction Bureau (NRB) in a meeting of the federal cabinet.
Taking note of the situation arising from non-availability of quality pesticides imported from abroad, the cabinet constituted a committee comprising representatives from the ministry of law, industries, food and agriculture and the NRB to propose a draft law to combat adulteration in pesticides.
This law will provide for effective on-the-spot checking, establishment of laboratories and strong penalties against adulterators. The recommendations will be presented to the federal cabinet in its next meeting.
The cabinet also approved the establishment of the Gwadar Port Authority for the development of Gwadar Port and other allied facilities.
The proposed authority shall consist of a Gwadar Port Authority Council headed by the Prime Minister, a board of directors headed by chairman of the proposed authority, and executive directors of the authority.
The Prime Minister directed that all issues relating to the establishment of Gwadar Port Authority to be resolved through inter-ministerial consultations within a week.
The cabinet also approved a proposal that all jobs in BPS-1 to BPS-15 in the authority be offered to the local residents of Gwadar, except where persons with required expertise were not available locally.
The cabinet approved the signing of inter-governmental agreement on Asian Highway Network, which stretches over 13,000 km of roads covering all countries of Asia including Pakistan.
The road he said enjoys a pivotal position and can play an important role in promoting trade and cultural activities in the South and East Asia region.
The completion of the network entails substantial dividends for Pakistan because all the transit routes will pass through it due to its geographical location.
The cabinet constituted a committee under the senior advisor, with cabinet secretary, information secretary and the law secretary to review the draft rules for carrying out the purposes of the freedom of information ordinance and suggest improvements and amendments, if required, to bring about greater transparency in the functioning of the government.
The cabinet also decided to place Pakistan intellectual property rights organisation under the administrative control of the cabinet division to ensure its implementation as a part of the international regime on trade and commerce.
The cabinet approved the signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Pakistan and Turkey on collaboration in the field of defence, research, technology and production, which will give impetus to co-operation in defence production between the two countries.
The cabinet approved the conclusion of an agreement on merchant shipping between Pakistan and the Cyprus for co-operation in maritime transport, vessels access to ports and to provide employment to the people of both the countries.
The cabinet also approved the agreement between governments of UAE and Pakistan on mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.