ISLAMABAD: After rejecting summary for appointment for three years by establishment division, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has given look after charge of Director General (DG) of its attached department Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to a blue-eyed who is serving in the ministry on deputation from Balochistan.
As the federal minister of MoST apparently wants his man to hold the important post at any cost, the official by using his own authority, has given look after charge to a BS-20 officer of Government of Balochistan, who has joined the ministry recently on deputation basis for three months despite advertising the post (of DG PSQCA) as MP-1 scale for a second time.
According to a notification issued on Tuesday, the federal minister of MoST Agha Hassan Baloch has assigned look after charge of the post of DG PSQCA to Mir Ghulam Farooq Langov, joint secretary (Admin) MoST for a period of three months or till appointment of regular incumbent in MP-1 scale, whichever is earlier.
During look after charge, the officer will carry out such functions and exercise such powers that are covered under establishment Divisions conveyed in April 2021.
Interestingly, through a summary, the ministry, despite admitting the fact that the recruitment of DG PSQCA is under process after advertising the post for a second time, informed the Federal Cabinet that the Minister for MoST wanted to appoint a BS-20 officer of Government of Balochistan against the said post despite himself serving on deputation basis for three years.
Since there was no legal justification of appointing the officer for three years, the Establishment Division had reportedly rejected the summary, asking the ministry to expedite the due recruitment process of DG on MP-1 scale. The only justification given in the summary was, “the decision of appointment of DG PSQCA on deputation is being made as the Minister wishes to do the same”.
Interestingly, there was no need to give the look after charge to the one on deputation as an officer of the ministry Mr Zainul Abedeen was already holding the charge in absence of a regular DG.
The federal minister has insisted on appointing Mr Langov, who holds a degree of MA International Relations (2nd Division) and LLB (1st Division) against a purely technical post of DG PSQCA.
As per details, the process of appointment of DG PSQCA was initiated by the Ministry after conversion of post of DG PSQCA into MP-I Scale with the approval of MP and SPS Scale Conversion Committee in its meeting held on 26.08.2021. The Finance Division also allowed the conversion of post into MP-I Scale via its letter dated 15.11.2021. The post of DG PSQCA was advertised on 27-11-2022 and a total of 98 applications were received of which shortlisting of the applications is under process.
It may be mentioned here that a case related to advertisement/process of recruitment of DG PSQCA is pending at Islamabad High Court. The Petitioner in the case Dr Shahzad Afzal, had prayed that appointment of head of PSQCA on acting basis was a breach of MP Scale Policy 2020 and no one can be appointed on acting basis for more than 90 days.
It may be mentioned here that MoST has not been able to fill the post of DG PSQCA since the retirement of DG Abdul Aleem Memon on September 25, 2021.
An official source of the ministry, who did not want to be named, informed that secretary MoST and others were not in favor of the minister’s decision. According to him, the minister has already deputed another officer from the education department of Balochistan in PSQCA as director on deputation basis giving him additional charge of secretary PSQCA.
Now after the fresh decision the two non-technical and inexperienced officials from Balochistan (Mr Langov and Mureed Baloch) would be running affairs of the very important organization, which is the only standard body responsible for ensuring quality and standard of over 166 food and nonfood mandatory items.Â
Secretary MoST Ghulam Memon could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.
