The Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology (IT) and Telecommunication while expressing apprehensions over the misuse of National ICT Research & Development (ICT R&D) funds as well as giving scholarships to blue-eyed by the authorities, sought report within one week on procedure being followed in this regard. The committee, which met with Mohammad Idrees Khan Safi in the chair here on Monday, observed that it was not the job of that institution to award scholarships, but to play its due role in financial development through research.
The committee also sought report on the appointments, promotions, posting/transfers orders in Special Communication Organisation (SCO) during last six months, violating the merit. The committee met to review the progress being made in brining Fata within the ambit of the SCO in light of the directives of the committee; National ICT R&D Funds on Prime Minster's National ICT Scholarships Programme 2013; follow-up/implementation status on the ICT R&D fund on the recommendations of this committee regarding formation of R&D fund board; funding mechanism and observance of guarantee mechanism while making payment; ascertaining the accreditation of the institutions to whom projects are being / have been awarded; review of the project in Islamabad to whom 50 percent funding have been made and submission of Audit Report of the projects (completed/in pipeline).
Idrees informed the committee that in its last meeting, he had recommended that in collaboration with Special Communication Committee, the ministry should work for providing telephone facility in Fata, besides framing a comprehensive policy in consultations with all stakeholders.
State Minister for IT Anusha Rehman told the Committee that SCO had no license and several meetings were held with it in that regard, but the later was not extending its support. The minister was directed to inform the committee whether Fata comes under the jurisdiction of SCO or not. If it is deliberately not working in Fata, then it should propose what action should be taken against it?
The Chairman further said that getting scholarship was every Pakistani's right but nobody would be allowed to take advantage in violation of laws. No illegal measures would be acceptable in that regard. The report about appointments, posting, transfers and promotions by phone during last six months would be presented to the committee within one week, concerned officials informed the committee.
The committee was informed that there is a programme "Prime Minister Scholarship programme" under which metric and FSc student having first divisions from 1,600 government schools are being awarded scholarships from which 7,000 students get benefits annually. Record of these 7,000 students is available and they are being provided training. Top 500 of them are awarded scholarships. Through NTS a proper test is taken for selection.
On this the state minister said it was not the mandate of that institute to give scholarships to students but should focus on research work. She further said that students should be given jobs in that institute to utilise them for promotion of research department. Students should be given curriculum according to the industry's requirements, she added. The committee expressed apprehensions over the national research and development scholarship funds programme 2013 and directed the concerned departments to provide a report of the procedure followed for selection in this regard.