ISLAMABAD: The cement industry is not paying the marking fee to PSQCA for the last 15 years with the outstanding dues having reached Rs4.5 billion till June 2022. This was revealed before the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology which met under the chairmanship of Senator Muhammad Shafiq Tareen here on Tuesday.
The committee deliberated upon the current progress of recovery from cement companies which were fined/ penalised. It was briefed that the cement products were included in the mandatory rules of PSQCA (the OPC in 1982, SRC in 1988, Slag Cement in 1992).
The committee failed to understand as to why the PSQCA has not fined any cement unit as yet. It also raised serious question on the vacant seat of the DG PSQCA since one and a half years. The committee apprehended malafide intention at the part of the PSQCA and recommended taking proper steps and involvement of the attorney general of the Supreme Court.
While taking briefing by Prof Dr Sajid Qamar, acting rector Comsats University Islamabad regarding fixing salaries of regular employees and daily wagers/ contract employees according to Federal Government Basic Pay Scales, the chairman committee remarked that an internal meeting between the staff and the administration must be conducted and come to a settlement on salaries.
While making a comparison between the salaries of the government basic pay scale (BPS) 2022 and CUI Pay scale 2021, he said they are highly variant and inconsistent.
The administration of the university pledged that the salaries are being based and settled on the available funds; however, a meeting would be conducted to resolve the matter.
Similarly, on the matter of assigning interim charge as acting registrar and regaining of treasurer, after completion of his term, the chairman committee said that the information provided by the ministry in this regard is incomplete. He sought more detail on the subject matter. It was apprised that the Senate CUI has drafted the summary and put up the case in the PM’s office.
On the matter of budget status for the fiscal year 2022-2023 regarding its approval from the competent authority (CUI Senate), it was apprised that the CUI budget is approved by the Senate of CUI after its approval by Finance and Planning Committee (F&PC), syndicate and the Senate.
The committee while vetting the classification of the budget raised question on the other charges of Rs3,219.496 million. It deferred the matter observing that the details of the budget are incomplete and sought complete details including details pertaining to other charges of Rs3,219 million.
When the Chairman committee inquired on the establishment of CUI at the Quetta campus it was apprised that a temporary premises is being established in PCSIR Labs Quetta. It was apprised that Secretary MoST has written a letter to the chief secretary Government of Balochistan. The committee lamented the delay in the establishment of the university.
The ministry recommended the committee to immediately write a letter to the minister to expedite the matter as soon as possible since its establishment at the moment is possible due to the availability of required finance.
The ministry apprised on the budgetary proposal related to the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the financial year (2023-2024). The secretary MoST briefed the committee that it demanded a budget of Rs10.1 billion, however, a budget of Rs7.5 billion has been approved. However, it was proposed that another one billion should be added to the budget so that the ministry can perform at its best.
The committee apprised that there are a total of 32 ongoing projects, nine new projects with a total cost of rupees 26,496.567 and 12,982.602 million, respectively.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2023
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