ISLAMABAD: While the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) is already under fire for its failure and irregularities in its attached departments, the ministry is going to hold a meeting of Board of Directors (BoD) of Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) on Monday.
Official sources, however, term the meeting as “unlawful” as a large number of members of the board do not exist and the board is still incomplete.
The ministry, through a notice issued on November 18, 2022, has asked all members of the BoD to attend the meeting scheduled to be held in Karachi. However, some officials at the ministry claim that the meeting has been scheduled by the Minister MoST, Agha Hassan Baloch despite the fact that the existing composition of PSQCA BoD, which included nine members, is not in compliance with PSQCA ACT 1996.
As per the reliable sources the key members of the board including Director General of PSQCA, who is also vice chairman of the board, Secretary PSQCA, Deputy Director General Finance, Deputy Director General (Quality Control), Deputy Director General (Standard Development), and Deputy Director General (Technical Services) do not exist and the said positions of the members are presently vacant.
Besides, the post of Secretary PSQCA, who is also secretary of the BoD is also vacant since the retirement of the former secretary last month. As per the authority’s act the secretary of the board will issue the notices and minutes of BoD. The remaining two members of BoD included one representative from each Ministry of Commerce and FPCCI.
Interestingly an official of the ministry (Joint Scientific Officer) has been given the look after charge of the Director General PSQCA, who cannot take policy decisions.
Despite the absence of six key members/concerned officials of the board, the minister, according to insiders, is interested to hold a meeting of the BoD for taking a few political decisions of his interest.
“We are unable to understand the rationale behind holding the BoD meeting instead of appointing a regular head of PSQCA and filling the key positions of the authority. It seems the minister, who is chairman of BoD is being misled by some interest group,” said an official at the ministry in terms of unanimity.
Another interesting aspect of the scheduled BoD is that the Minister, through his PSO on November 11, 2022 has also asked a deputy director (finance) PSQCA Ali Muhammad Bukhari to prepare the agenda of the BoD despite the fact the said official has been sent on forced leave for various inquiries related to financial embezzlement, irregularities and suspicious transactions.
In further interesting development, the ministry through a letter sent by Section Officer (Org-III) on same date (November 11, 2022) has asked the DG PSQCA to update the ministry regarding financial and administrative mismanagement allegedly committee by DD PSQCA Ali Muhammad Bukhari.
An official of the ministry, when contacted, claimed that the Secretary MoST Ghulam Muhammad Memon is not in favor of holding the BoD keeping in view the incomplete composition of the board and other legal issues. The minister, who reportedly wanted to hold the meeting at any cost, was reportedly bypassing the secretary office while forcing the acting DG PSQCA, Zainul Abideen and officials to arrange the meeting.
“Those who understand the legal aspect of the BoD, are reluctant to participate and make arrangements regarding the meeting,” he said.
Secretary MoST Ghulam Muhammad Memon, when contacted said he was not aware of the BoD meeting, saying that Zainul Abedeen, who holds the look after charge of PSQCA, may be aware of the meeting.
According to insiders, through the BoD the minister, apart from scheduled agenda, was interested in establishing offices and laborarites of the PSQCA in Balochistan besides creating some posts in the authority. Since the
According to the sources in the absence of secretary of the BoD, the existing acting DG PSQCA was handling the affairs of BoD despite the fact that as per the notification regarding look after charge of DG PSQCA issued on October 3, 2022, it has clearly been mentioned that he shall not exercise any administrative or financial powers of regular DG in light of the directions of Establishment Division communicated vide O.M. dated April 9, 2021. The Acting DG PSQCA could not be contacted for comments on the issue despite repeated attempts.
