ISLAMABAD: Secretaries’ Committee is all set to discuss amendments in rules of business to replace the word “federal government” with appropriate lower authority aimed at expediting the process of approvals, well informed sources told Business recorder.

On October 11, 2022, during discussion in the Federal Cabinet meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif observed that routine cases were still being submitted for approval or ratification of the Cabinet, based on the Mustafa Impex case verdict.

He once again desired that all Ministries/ Divisions should go through their respective laws/ rules and suggest amendments to delegate the authority from the level of the Federal Government/ Federal cabinet to an appropriate lower authority. The cabinet would review the progress of Ministries/ Divisions, in alphabetical order, starting with 5 to 6 Ministries/ Divisions in each meeting.

Supreme Court in its judgment in the Mustafa Impex case defined the term “federal government” as the “federal cabinet”.

After brief discussion, the Cabinet once again reiterated its earlier directions that all Ministries/ Divisions should go through their respective laws/ rules and suggest amendments to delegate the authority from the level of the Federal Government/ Federal Cabinet to an appropriate lower authority. The Cabinet shall review the progress of Ministries/ Divisions, in alphabetical order.

Accordingly, following Divisions were directed to present their respective status and timelines, in the next Cabinet meeting: (i) Aviation Division; (ii) Cabinet Division; (iii) Climate Change Division; (iv) Commerce Division; and (v) Communication Division.

The sources said Secretaries Committee headed by Secretary Cabinet will consider different options to amend rules of business so that the word federal government is replaced with appropriate authority to expedite required approvals.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2022