The Ministry of Science and Technology has regularised at least 38 employees from grade 2 to 16 who were appointed in Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in violation of laid down procedures and rules. Mir Changez Khan Jamali, Federal Minister of Science and Technology, at a hurriedly organised programme here at PSQCA head office on Monday distributed the letters of regularisation of services among these 38 employees.
Later, addressing a media briefing, the minister claimed that the contracted/contingent employees were being regularised on the special instructions of a Standing Committees of National Assembly and Senate and a committee under Syed Khursheed Shah (approved by the Prime Minister) to improve the efficiencies of government organisations. According to him, the government has decided to regularise all those employees recruited before June 30, 2012 and are working on contracts or contingency basis.
Interestingly, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had earlier started investigation into irregularities and violation of rules at PSQCA through which the authority had recruited these staffs in the absence of due procedure/criteria. According to details available with Business Recorder, over 48 direct appointments were made during the last six months on the recommendations of influential political personalities through the Secretary and Deputy Director (Admin) of PSQCA at Karachi. The new appointments were made on the basis of contingency against a fixed monthly remuneration for 89 days without prior advertisement in newspapers and meeting other requirements.
The minister, however, claimed that only those who met the education requirements had been recruited. He could say that the appointments were made through due procedures set by the government. Replying to a query that the FIA had already been conducting an investigation into those appointments, the minister said in an angry tone; "go to the FIA if this is the case. We (Pakistan People's Party) always try to create job opportunities for people." "Even the recent passport case has wrongly been initiated by FIA."
In reply to another query why those people who applied against the same post advertised last month were being ignored, Director General of PSQCA Pir Bakhsh Jamali said the process come to a halt after the Establishment Division objected the move. The minister further claimed the remaining employees waiting for regularisation and promotion would be accommodated in second phase of the process anytime soon. Talking about the introduction of a water-fuelled car in the country, he claimed it was likely by August 14, 2012. Pakistan would be the first country to introduce water as fuel for car, according to him.
"As the world is more focusing on standard and quality of goods, we are giving more attention to the issue," he said, adding, that PSQCA would be more equipped and financed to maintain standard in the country. According to him, PSQCA is moving forward to resolving issues with sugar and cement industry amicably with a view to ensuring quality of already listed compulsory items as per the authority's specifications. PSQCA has also been allowed to open more offices/labs in various parts of the country.
PSQCA, he claim, would also play its role in maintaining already proposed world-wide standards of Halal food. An MoU has already been signed with the concerned organisation of Turkey to build and maintain Halal Foods' standards, according to the minister.
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