ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan today chaired a meeting of the Federal Cabinet at Prime Minister’s Office. The federal cabinet approved placement of Opposition Leader in National Assembly Shehbaz Sharif’s name on the Exit Control List (ECL). The Cabinet was informed that Prime Minister’s office has taken lead in cutting down its expenditure by 31% during the current financial year resulting in savings of Rs. 303 million. The savings have been made under various heads including pay and allowances, food expenses, motor vehicle fuel and cash rewards. The Prime Minister while reiterating his call for maximum possible cut in expenditure urged all the ministers to ensure that the Government’s austerity drive is implemented in letter and spirit. The cabinet approved appointment of Azhar Hameed as chairman of Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI), besides tasking Haroon Hussain for the audit of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). It was decided that in future a panel of suitable officers for posting against the slot of Secretary of a ministry would be proposed by a high-level committee, to be headed by the Advisor to Prime Minister on Establishment and having Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood, the concerned Minister-in-Charge, Secretary Establishment and Secretary to Prime Minister as its members. It was decided that normal tenure on the post would be two years. Continuation of tenure will be subject to review by the Minister in charge after initial six months. It was also decided that normal tenure of two years can be extended to three years on the basis of performance review by the Prime Minister in consultation with the Minister in charge. The Cabinet granted ex-post facto approval of MOU on industrial cooperation between National Development and Reform Commission of China and Federal Board of Investment of Islamic Republic of Pakistan. The Cabinet ratified the decision taken by the Cabinet Committee on State Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) in its Meeting held on 02-01-2019. The Cabinet granted expost-facto approval for appointments of Administrator and Deputy Administrators made in Abandoned Properties Organization. The Cabinet approved appointment of Azhar Hameed as Chairman, Employees Old Age Benefit Institution (EOBI). The Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Yunnan Minzu University (YMU), China and National University of Modern Languages (NUML). The Cabinet approved a proposal to appoint M/S Horwath Hussain Chaudhry & Co to audit the accounts of NADRA for the Financial Year 2017-18. The Cabinet ratified Visa Abolition Agreement between Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the Republic of Cyprus for Diplomatic and Official/Service Passport Holders. The Cabinet approved appointment of Raja Amer Khan as Chairman, Implementation Tribunal for Newspaper Employees (ITNE). The Cabinet approved appointment of Mr. Justice Shahid Karim as Judge of the Special Court and Justice Mrs. Tahira Safdar as President of the Special Court , constituted under Criminal Law Amendment (Special Court) Act, 1976 (Act XVII of 1976). The Cabinet also approved composition of Steering Committee for Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP). The Cabinet approved Memorandum of Understanding between Government of Pakistan and China Overseas Ports Holdings Company Limited under Clean Green Pakistan Movement (CGP-M). The Cabinet also approved revision of visa fee for various countries under visa liberalization regime. The Prime Minister during the meeting directed a nation-wide campaign be formulated to launch crackdown against the sale of adulterated milk. Published in Daily Times, February 22nd 2019.