ISLAMABAD, Feb 13 (APP):The Senate on Friday passed The Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2026, aimed at amending the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority Act, 2024. The bill had earlier been approved by the National Assembly.
The bill was moved by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry.
According to the statement of objects and reasons, the amendment follows the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Mustafa Impex, Karachi v. Government of Pakistan (PLD 2016 SC 808) case, which clarified that executive decisions involving policy, financial or administrative implications should be taken collectively by the federal cabinet rather than by individual office holders, unless authorised by law.
Officials noted that several existing laws continue to assign routine administrative powers to the “federal government,” requiring minor and procedural matters to be repeatedly submitted to the cabinet. This practice, it was observed, has placed an avoidable burden on the cabinet and contributed to administrative delays.
The amendment bill has been prepared following a comprehensive review of relevant laws by the Cabinet Division to streamline governance, improve administrative efficiency, and allow the federal cabinet to focus on policy and strategic matters.
The proposed changes seek to rationalise and reassign certain powers to appropriate authorities.
The bill is intended to facilitate smoother administrative processes while ensuring compliance with the Supreme Court’s directives on collective decision-making at the federal level.