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ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology convened at the Parliament House under the leadership of Senator Kamil Ali Agha to evaluate various aspects of the Ministry’s operations, including rightsizing and alleged irregularities. The meeting saw participation from several senators and senior officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology.
According to a statement by Senate of Pakistan, the committee focused on the delay in the issuance of notifications for the nominations of Senators Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Dost Muhammad Khan, Mir Dostain Khan Domki, and Muhammad Aslam Abro to organizations under the Ministry. These nominations, previously ratified by the committee, are currently pending approval from the Prime Minister. Senator Agha urged that the notifications be expedited.
The topic of rightsizing within the Ministry was also discussed. Senator Agha highlighted the need for a policy that protects employees’ livelihoods amidst departmental inefficiencies. The Ministry’s Secretary suggested drafting a proposal for further committee discussion, emphasizing the importance of a detailed report on vacancies and departmental closures.
The committee received a briefing on the Pakistan Engineering Council’s (PEC) roles and international agreements with Kuwait and China to employ Pakistani engineers abroad. Senator Agha raised questions about contractor assessments and hiring requirements for engineers, underscoring the need for collaboration with industries and universities to enhance local employment opportunities.
Further discussions covered the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) and the Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Center (PASTIC). The committee suggested increasing PSF’s human resource capacity by 40% to boost efficiency, particularly in artificial intelligence. Senator Agha acknowledged the importance of promoting science for public benefit.
Lastly, the committee addressed irregularities in appointing the head of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA). The recruitment process, involving interviews with 42 candidates, has been concluded, and the decision now rests with the Prime Minister. The Ministry refuted media reports, stating that the process was complete but awaited a final decision.
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