In order to grant National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS) the status of a functional autonomy, the Ministry of Population Welfare has sent a draft bill to the cabinet for approval, sources told Business Recorder.
According to the sources the draft bill recommends that NIPS should have functional autonomy, having perpetual succession and a common seal with power. The overall direction and the superintendence of the affairs of this institute shall be vested in a Board of Governors (BoG). "This Board of Governors will exercise all powers and do all acts which may be exercised by the institute," sources emphasised.
Moreover, the Minister for Population Welfare will be the chairperson of this BoG, which will consist of a Chairperson, Vice- Chairperson, and other 13 persons including Chief Executive Officer. This draft bill recommends that the Federal Government shall have the powers to increase or decrease the number of the members of the Board and to lay down their terms and conditions, while the Federal Government will also suggest its mode of appointment.
Similarly, the Chief Executive Officer of the institute shall be appointed by the federal government on merit that includes qualification, experience and number of international publications to one's credit. Furthermore, no representative from any international organisation, foundation or charity shall be nominated as Associate Member of the Board of Governors of the institute.
Sources disclosed that the directives to the institute issued by the federal government on matters of policy shall be binding on the institute, whereas the accounts of the institute shall be audited by the Auditor- General of Pakistan.