The federal cabinet in a meeting on Wednesday accorded its approval for signing agreements with Saudi Arabia and China for the transfer of convicted individuals.

The meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi approved a number of agenda items including appointments and signing of treaties and agreements with different countries, read a PM Office statement.

It approved extending the services of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) to the government of Somalia for the development of Somali National Identification System. Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act, 2018, was also approved.

Furthermore, the cabinet approved appointments of Ghulam Taqi Sajid as chairman of Drug Court Islamabad, and sessions judge Mohammad Akram as judge of the special court (Control of Narcotic Substances), Rawalpindi.

It also approved appointments of Fida Mohammad Wazir as Managing Director, Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) and Mohammad Naveed as Member (Finance) Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA).

It was decided that Naveed would also work as chairman PTA for three months.

Also, the appointment of Abdul Aleem Memon as Director General Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority was also approved.

Additionally, approval was given for a proposal to delete 11 items from the Compulsory Certification Mark Scheme of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) while three items would be added to the list. The added items included liquid tea/coffee whitener, powder tea/coffee whitener and refined palm olein.

The cabinet also accorded its approval to notify maximum retail prices of 139 new additional pack sizes of already registered drugs which would help in reducing the prices of these drugs.