Irregularities in PARC recruitment process: Inquiry body to finalise report within two days, Senate body told

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFS&R) on Tuesday informed a parliamentary body that the inquiry committee constituted to probe irregularities in the recruitment process in the Pakistan Agriculture Council (PARC) would finalise its report within two days.

A senior official of MNFS&R, while briefing the Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research, which met with Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan in the chair, looked into irregularities in the recruitment process. The panel was informed that an inquiry committee headed by Nauman Rashid has started an inquiry against the officers who were allegedly involved in the irregularities in the recruitment process.

PARC chairman Murtaza Hassan Andrabi told the committee that the two officers allegedly involved in irregularities have been dismissed from service. He said that action against more officers would be taken after the inquiry committee submits its final report. The committee is expected to submit its report within two days, he said.

Senator Poonjo Bheel said that the action was taken after the matter was pointed out in the previous committee meeting and then reported in the media. He said that the candidates who have filed applications and deposited fees should be included in the future recruitment process.

He said that most of the candidates have approached the court and warned that if they were reinstated through court orders, those who had been left out could become overage for future recruitment.

The chairman said that the committee had earlier ordered them to submit the names and domicile details of all the candidates before the committee, but these details have so far not been provided. The chairman said that PARC official Fakhar Wahla had lied before the committee and had shown disrespect to the committee.

He said that the same officer should have been removed from the service and you have merely removed him from his position for only three months.

Senator PoonjoBheel said thatsuch a situation would not have emerged if recruitment processes had been conducted while keeping in view the quota allocated to all provinces.

The MNFS&R officials also briefed the committee regarding oilseeds and olive cultivation in the country. Olive has been cultivated on approximately 60,000 acres in the country, including around 29,000 acres in Balochistan.

The parliamentary body directed MNFS&R to provide a detailed report about international funding received for olive-related projects during the next meeting.

Senator Syed Mansoor Ahsan expressed concern over the challenges facing domestic edible oil production and called for practical measures to promote local production. He directed the Ministry to submit a comprehensive report covering progress made during the last three years, PSDP projects, initiatives relating to olive oil production and plans for enhancing domestic oilseed production.

The meeting was attended by Senator Poonjo Bheel, Senator Sardar Al-Haj Muhammad Umer Gorgaij, and senior officials of MNFS&R.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026