The Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) is reportedly facing criticism for imposing its "own" people on the newly-appointed Board of Engineering Development Board (EDB) and ignoring several deserving sectors, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
Federal of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI) which also played a pivotal role in the reversal of Abbasi-led cabinet's decision to abolish EDB criticized the Ministry for not taking its member on the board as was the practice since long. The sources said, several other sectors have been ignored in being proposed as new Board members to the Prime Minister and then to the federal cabinet.
The previous EDB Board was notified on September 11, 2014 drawing 5 members from the Government side and ten from public and private sectors, including members PAMA, PAAPAM, and two members from Academia - Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC) - and three members were added on May 20, 2015 - one from public sector i.e. State Engineering and two from private sector. The representation in the former Board was balanced whereas the current board lacks representation from public sector and there is duplication in some sectors like steel sector as two members re from re-rolling sector - Noman Wazir Khattak and Abbas Akbar Ali while there is no representation from Pakistan Steel, steel melters, Ship breakers, line pipe Industry, etc.
The newly constituted EDB board does not reflect proper representation from relevant stake-holders from the private sector and appears to be a "friends club".
The sources further stated that member from DESCON Engineering with the Prime Minister's Advisor retaining his shareholdings in the company represents a clear conflict of interest.
According to sources, out of 12 members from private sector including Chairman, five members (Almas Hyder-Chairman, Nabeel Hashmi, Sikandar Mustafa, Saquib H. Shirazi and one new entrant) are from auto industry yet surprisingly the main bodies of auto industry i.e. PAMA and PAAPAM have been ignored; and no representative from the Chinese auto companies' have been taken on the board.
The sources further stated that two members (Muhammad Faisal Afza of Super Asia and Muhammad Murad Saigal from PEL) have been selected from Home Appliances. One member is from electric fans and one from sports goods sector. Surgical/cutlery sector which is one of the major export sectors have been ignored.
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