Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz has approved the adoption of pay scales and allowances of Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) for the employees of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC). The new pay scales would be implemented from January 1, 2007, reliable sources told Business Recorder here on Wednesday.
Similarly, PAEC rules governing recruitment and performance-based promotion criteria, medical facilities, training, scholarships, fellowships, transport facilities and retirement benefits are being adopted with suitable amendments as per specific organisational requirements of the PARC, they added.
Sources stated that in consequence of audit observations, the PARC had stopped awarding pension to all such employees whose services were rendered in PSDP projects and current schemes at least for the last three years.
About 1,500 scientists and staff, who are more than 50 percent of the total PARC employees are expected to fall in this category in the coming few years (as and when such employees reach the age of superannuation). About 70 out of such cases are being dealt with presently in the head office.
They said this situation had created a tense atmosphere in the organisation because people who had retired or in the pipeline were demanding similar dispensation as given previously.
They said more than 100 scientists were stuck at their current levels for over 10 to 15 years, as a result they started leaving the organisation to join other institutions including universities at higher levels while some of them have left for abroad in search of better future.
To overcome the crisis, a decision has been taken to grant anticipatory pension as per provisions of rule-922 (a). While allowing the anticipatory pension, disputed period of service of such employees was not taken into account.
This issue, however, required a permanent solution which has been sought with the approval of adoption of PAEC pay scales and allowances for the employees of the PARC, they remarked.
Sources appreciated the role of Federal Minister for Food, Agriculture and Livestock Sikandar Hayat Khan Bosan, incumbent PARC chairman ME Tusneem and Ex-PARC Chairman Abdullah Kausar Malik, founder of national agricultural research system, in getting the approval of special pay scales for the scientists and staff of the PARC.
The goals set out through vision 2030 and medium-term development framework (2005-2010) for growth in agriculture sector with emphasis on diversification into high value agriculture, water use efficiency, improved productivity, profitability and competitiveness in global markets, can only be achieved when Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) scientists are provided with working environment which nurtures science and technology, the sources observed.