PCSIR chief's appointment: National Assembly panel asks law division to give opinion

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Friday directed the Law and Establishment Divisions for giving its opinion on the appointment of the Director-General (DG) of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). The meeting of Committee was held here with Dr Abdul Kadir Khanzada of MQM in the chair.
The committee's Chairman said that the Ministry of Science and Technology had appointed a junior officer on the post of Director-General (DG), bypassing other senior officers. He said that earlier, PCSIR's Chairman had sent three names to the ministry for the appointment to the post of DG, but the list was not entertained and subsequently PCSIR sent another summary inserting the name of Iftikhar Soomro, who was later appointed as the Director General.
The Chairman of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research informed the committee that according to Regulation 22 of PCSIR's Service Regulation 198, postings/transfers of the Director-General of the laboratories and Units is made in consultation with the Ministry of Science and Technology.
He said the post of DG was an administrative post, and the person having vast administrative experience, leadership qualities, research and development, at least three years service in BPS-20 and sound relation with industries was recommended. He said that according to Section 15 of the PCSIR Act, the council was bound to follow the directives and orders issued by Ministry of Science and Technology.
The council's explanation did not sway the opinion of the members of the committee who later on issued instructions to the Law and Establishment Divisions to give their opinion on the appointment of Director General of PCSIR. The parliamentary body also asked to call a meeting on the issue of the appointment of PCSIR's DG and recruitment made during the last four years in the Ministry.
The Committee also discussed the matter regarding budget demand and allocations for Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) and Pakistan Council of Renewable Energy Technologies (PCRET). The Chairman PCRWR briefed the Committee about the organisation's background. He said the organisation was playing its role in national research in irrigation drainage and surface and groundwater management.
He mentioned that PCRWR was also working on watershed management, water quality assessment and rainwater harvesting. The Committee was apprised about the development budget including approved projects 2012-13 and major Research and Development projects in progress with research and development activities.
The Committee was informed about the achievements and installation of biogas plants in the Provinces. The Committee directed the PCRET to inform the achievements to the people and the media so that the masses could benefits from it. The Committee also directed the PCRET to co-ordinate with the Provincial governments and informed them regarding their water purification achievements.