AIRLINK 74.85 Increased By ▲ 0.56 (0.75%)
BOP 4.98 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.61%)
CNERGY 4.49 Increased By ▲ 0.12 (2.75%)
DFML 40.00 Increased By ▲ 1.20 (3.09%)
DGKC 86.35 Increased By ▲ 1.53 (1.8%)
FCCL 21.36 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (0.71%)
FFBL 33.85 Decreased By ▼ -0.27 (-0.79%)
FFL 9.72 Increased By ▲ 0.02 (0.21%)
GGL 10.45 Increased By ▲ 0.03 (0.29%)
HBL 112.74 Decreased By ▼ -0.26 (-0.23%)
HUBC 137.44 Increased By ▲ 1.24 (0.91%)
HUMNL 11.42 Decreased By ▼ -0.48 (-4.03%)
KEL 5.28 Increased By ▲ 0.57 (12.1%)
KOSM 4.63 Increased By ▲ 0.19 (4.28%)
MLCF 37.80 Increased By ▲ 0.15 (0.4%)
OGDC 139.50 Increased By ▲ 3.30 (2.42%)
PAEL 25.61 Increased By ▲ 0.51 (2.03%)
PIAA 20.68 Increased By ▲ 1.44 (7.48%)
PIBTL 6.80 Increased By ▲ 0.09 (1.34%)
PPL 122.20 Increased By ▲ 0.10 (0.08%)
PRL 26.58 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.26%)
PTC 14.05 Increased By ▲ 0.12 (0.86%)
SEARL 58.98 Increased By ▲ 1.76 (3.08%)
SNGP 68.95 Increased By ▲ 1.35 (2%)
SSGC 10.30 Increased By ▲ 0.05 (0.49%)
TELE 8.38 Decreased By ▼ -0.02 (-0.24%)
TPLP 11.06 Decreased By ▼ -0.07 (-0.63%)
TRG 64.19 Increased By ▲ 1.38 (2.2%)
UNITY 26.55 Increased By ▲ 0.05 (0.19%)
WTL 1.45 Increased By ▲ 0.10 (7.41%)
BR100 7,841 Increased By 30.9 (0.4%)
BR30 25,465 Increased By 315.4 (1.25%)
KSE100 75,114 Increased By 157.8 (0.21%)
KSE30 24,114 Increased By 30.8 (0.13%)

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology and Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) have locked horns over allegedly giving the charge of Member Science of Pakistan Science Foundation to a lower-grade officer in violation of rules and regulations.

Science Foundation Chairman Dr Shahid Mehmood Baig has refused to accept the joining of the concerned officer, despite the alleged pressure from the minister’s office.

This was confirmed by the PSF chairman while talking to Business Recorder. This correspondent repeatedly tried to connect with the minister to take his viewpoint on the matter but received no response till filing this news.

Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch is facing criticism for appointing an officer, who faced several charges including harassment, to multiple senior positions including his appointment as the chairman of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF).

Baig also confirmed that a summary has reportedly been moved for his (Baig’s) dismissal, but hinted to knock any forum if removed unlawfully.

Dr Hafeezullah Khan is a Grade-20 officer and the Science and Technology ministry wants to give him the additional charge of grade-21 in violation of rules and regulations when three senior-most officers are currently posted in the Foundation.

As per the rules, the chairman Foundation sends three names of the most senior officers in the institution to the federal secretary Science and Technology for look-after or additional charge on the vacant post of Member Science in the Foundation.

The federal secretary takes approval from the minister for Science and Technology for one of these officers, as a Member Science charge.

However, in this case, the minister, himself, sent the name of Dr Khan and asked the chairman to receive joining from him, which Dr Baig refused.

PSF chairman argued that according to rules, the Ministry of Science and Technology has no jurisdiction in the appointment of the PSF chairman. Only the president of Pakistan can make that call.

Dr Khan is also overseeing the matters in two other federal organisations, i.e., the Pakistan Council of Science and Technology (PCST) and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).

The PSF chairman said that message was received from the ministry asking him to resign; otherwise, he will be sent on a six-month forced leave and an inquiry will be started against him and he will be dismissed from his job.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023

Comments

Comments are closed.