STAFF REPORTER
ISLAMABAD:In yet another attempt to appoint a regular head for the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), an attached department of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST), the ministry conducted a fourth round of interviews for the Director General (DG) position over the past couple of years.
Despite multiple advertisements and interview sessions, the ministry has struggled to finalize the appointment. Insiders allege that the delays are largely due to efforts to appoint politically connected candidates, or those with questionable qualifications and experience, leading to court challenges and leaving the ministry with no option but to assign temporary look-after charges to its officials.
In a surprising development, an interview process that was nearly completed a few months ago was abruptly halted for unknown reasons. Fresh interviews of over 40 candidates were held on September 19 and 20, 2024, leaving many of the candidates perplexed as to why the ministry has been unable to fill the critical position.
Sources within the ministry claim that political considerations have repeatedly obstructed the appointment process. They further expressed concerns that some candidates with histories of irregularities, illegal appointments, promotions, and financial misappropriations were being considered for the post.
Among the four candidates who have previously worked at PSQCA, two—Dr. H.U. Khan and Masood Abbas Rizvi—stand out for their controversial tenures. Dr. H.U. Khan, who previously held the position of DG PSQCA on an acting basis, was involved in overseeing a controversial promotion of employees from lower grades to Grade 19. These promotions were later nullified due to violations of established rules.
Dr. Khan has also faced multiple dismissals from his role at the Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF). According to a three-page termination letter from PSF, Dr. Khan was compulsorily retired in 2016, lost his case in 2017, and an appeal in 2018 at the Islamabad High Court (IHC). The IHC’s ruling can only be overturned by the Supreme Court, rendering the inquiry report from 2021 as defective.
Masood Abbas Rizvi, who held the position of Deputy DG Finance at PSQCA, was similarly removed from service for his alleged involvement in financial irregularities.
Rizvi was also removed from his position Managing Director of the Korangi Fisheries Harbour Authority on the recommendation of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs for alleged mismanagement and financial irregularities.
Interestingly, despite the presence of these controversial figures, many of the shortlisted candidates lack the essential experience in standardization—a critical requirement for leading a technical organization like PSQCA.
Other notable candidates include former DG PNAC Ismat Gul Khattak, who also held acting charge as DG PSQCA, Akhtar Bugyo, DG Pakistan Halal Authority, and Dr. Shehzad Afzal, the newly appointed DG of the South Asian Regional Standards Organization (SARSO).
It is important to note that the matter of appointing a new DG for PSQCA remains pending in the Islamabad High Court.
Documents reveal that MoST announced the interview schedule for the coveted Director General position (MP-I Scale), to be conducted by a high-level Selection Committee formed under the Management Position Scales Policy 2020. The committee is chaired by the Federal Minister for Science and Technology and includes the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology, Additional Secretary-II of the Establishment Division, and Senior Joint Secretary (Administration), Ministry of Science and Technology. Dr. Syed Hussain Abidi, Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), has also been co-opted as a member of the committee.
The interviews took place on 19th and 20th September 2024 at the ministry’s headquarters in Islamabad, with a total of 42 candidates shortlisted for the position. The shortlisted candidates boast academic and professional backgrounds from various sectors.
The DG position at PSQCA is of immense importance, as the authority is responsible for maintaining and implementing standards across industries in Pakistan. The chosen candidate will be responsible for steering the development and enforcement of quality standards, contributing to Pakistan’s industrial competitiveness, consumer safety, and international trade.
The selection process underscores the significance of the role, and the appointment is eagerly awaited by both government and industry stakeholders. The ministry has emphasized that the selection will be based on merit, ensuring that the most qualified candidate leads PSQCA into the future.
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