ISLAMABAD: The federal cabinet on Tuesday discussed problems facing sugarcane growers and directed provincial governments to fulfill their responsibility towards ensuring prompt payments at notified rates to the farmers by the sugar mills immediately. The meeting of the cabinet was chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Prime Minister’s Office, a press release said. The cabinet approved signing of memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation in the field of information between the Committee on Television and Radio of the government of Tajikistan and Ministry of Information, Broadcasting and National Heritage of Pakistan. The signing of MoU for cooperation in the field of labour and training between Pakistan and the Sultanate of Oman was also approved. The meeting approved signing of arrangements on mutual cooperation in the field of justice administration between the Ministry of Law and Justice, Pakistan and Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Tunisia. The cabinet approved enforcement of the Costs of Litigation Act, 2017 with effect from March 1, 2018. It also approved a proposal for repatriation of Muhammad Naseem, judge Banking Court-I Peshawar to Peshawar High Court Peshawar and appointment of Khawaja Wahijud Din, district and sessions judge as judge Banking Court-I Peshawar, as recommended by the chief justice of Peshawar High Court. The cabinet also approved a proposal to appoint Syed Kausar Abbas Zaidi, district and sessions judge, as judge Special Court (Anti-Terrorism-I) Islamabad. Proposal for notifying maximum retail price of various drugs as well as reduction in prices of drugs in line with the Drug Pricing Policy was also approved. Appointment of Dr Sheikh Akhtar Hussain against the post of chief executive officer (CEO), Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan for a period of three months was approved. The cabinet directed Ministry of National Health Services to expedite the process of regular appointment of CEO of the authority. Approval of appointment of members of Board of Directors of Pakistan State Oil Company Limited (PSOCL) and Pakistan Petroleum Limited (PPL) was also accorded. Approval in principle for legislation in respect of establishment of ‘Institute of Science and Technology Bahawalpur’ was also accorded by the cabinet. Published in Daily Times, February 7th 2018.