Federal Cabinet has decided to revalidate data regarding licences issued and gave a 90-day grace period to all licence holders of prohibited weapons for registration with Nadra. A meeting of Federal Cabinet chaired by the New Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi directed "Interior Ministry to revalidate data regarding licences issued". A 90-day grace period to be given to all licence holders of prohibited weapons for registration with Nadra.
The Prime Minister also constituted a committee chaired by himself with Interior Minister, Minister for Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD), Minister of State Information & Broadcasting and National Security Advisor as members to collect proposals of Cabinet members put forward and bring the agenda item again.
In his opening remarks, Prime Minister directed that Cabinet would meet on every Tuesday and stated the size of the government was in line with 43 Ministries and Divisions. While apprising the Cabinet meeting about his Karachi visit he stated that he announced Rs 25 billion for Karachi and Rs 5 billion for Hyderabad under a comprehensive package to be implemented by the federal government under the policy and administrative supervision of Governor Sindh with fixed time lines and fixed cost. The package for Karachi, he stated, includes a hospital and medical college for Karachi, extension of green line metro to other areas as well as additional resources for new water projects and 50 fire tenders for KMC.
The package for Hyderabad, he stated, includes a series of underpasses and bridges to reduce the traffic load, one University and Medical College for Hyderabad, grant for Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and upgradation of infrastructure of all industrial estates. These projects will be executed within fixed timelines.
Abbasi said that record funds have been disbursed to federating units by the Pakistan Muslim League (N) government. He also briefed the meeting that he chaired during his Karachi visit on law and order in the wake of recent surge in street crimes in Karachi. The Prime Minister further stated that provincial government has been asked to play its due role in the development work in the province in general and Karachi in particular.
He reaffirmed all-out support to the provincial government in the development and ensuring peace and security in Sindh. Secretary Interior briefed the cabinet in laws relating to weapons licencing.
A summary was placed before the Cabinet by Ministry of (NHSR) for delegating the powers of the federal government for fixation of maximum retail prices of drugs, etc., to the Secretary, Ministry of NHSR in his capacity as Chairperson of the Policy Board of the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan.
The authority to modify the Drug Pricing Policy 2015 to set the prices lower than prices to be set under the policy when lower prices are demanded by the registered manufactures/ importers or for other reasons, to the Secretary, Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination subject to subsequent ratification by the federal cabinet.
In the summary, the ministry of MNHSR stated that the Supreme Court of Pakistan in a civil appeal stated that neither a secretary nor a minister nor the Prime Minister is the Federal Government and the exercise, or purported exercise, of a statutory power exercisable by the Federal Government by any of them, especially, in relation to fiscal matters, is constitutionally invalid and a nullity in the eyes of the law. Similarly, budgetary expenditure or discretionary Governmental expenditure can only be authorized by the Federal Government, ie, the Cabinet and not the Prime Minister on his own.
The rule 16(2) which apparently enables the Prime Minister to bypass the cabinet is ultra vires and is so declared.
In view of the aforesaid order of the SC and that the drug pricing cases are of critical nature and have to be disposed of expeditiously to ensure the sustained availability of drugs in the market, the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) moved a summary to seek approval from Federal Cabinet for authorization to the Minister-in-charge for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination along with other authorizations to exercise powers under section 12 of Drugs Act 1976 for fixation of prices. The federal cabinet accorded approval to the proposal of this ministry in the interest of expeditious disposal of such cases and authorized Minister-in-charge to exercise these powers.
In the above context, a summary was moved by this ministry on 25th July, 2017 proposing that in view of hectic schedule of the Minister-in-charge who was then the Prime Minister, the following powers may be delegated to Minister of State for NHSR&C to allow the expeditious disposal of cases:
"Approve delegation of powers of fixation of maximum retail prices of drugs etc. under drug Act 1976 to Minister of state for NHSRC instead of Minister-in-charge to ensure expeditious disposal of pricing cases. Further, delegate the authority to Minister of state for NHSRC to modify the Drug Pricing Policy 2015 to set the prices lower than prices to be set under the policy when lower prices are demanded by registered manufacturers/ importers or for other reasons in public interest. However, Prime Minister in his capacity as Minister-in-charge for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, on 4th August, 2017 was pleased to direct that a case be placed before the next meeting of the federal cabinet to seek its approval for delegation of powers to secretary NHSR."
The Federal Cabinet also approved Initiation of Negotiation on Inter-Government Agreement between Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Resources of Pakistan and National Development & Reform Commission of the China for Supply of POL Products and Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), Petroleum Division.
The Cabinet approved ratification of Agreement between the Government of Pakistan and the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect of Taxes on Income, Revenue Division.