ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Tuesday expressed concerns over non-appointment of the heads of eight institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology besides asking for action against individuals allegedly involved in corruption in these offices.

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology met with Senator Mushtaq Ahmed in the chair. Mr Ahmed pointed out that eight agencies of the ministry are running without heads and no one is taking the matter seriously.

The committee also expressed displeasure over the absence of Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhary, who was expected to respond to questions from the members.

“How will institutions function if there are no heads,” the chairman of the committee said.

However, officials from the ministry informed the committee that names have been finalised for appointment as heads of the institutions. The heads of two institutions will be appointed on additional charges.

The committee took up various issues, including alleged irregularities in the seniority list of Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), details of ongoing corruption cases in Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and pending promotion cases in both the organisations.

In addition, development of an ecosystem for promotion of science and technology and status of ongoing projects were also discussed.

The meting also discussed the shortage of funding to scientists in 16 institutes under the ministry for research purposes.

The ministry has not been given funds for research on coronavirus, Senator Hidayatullah said.

“The matter was raised with the secretary finance and the secretary planning but to no avail,” he complained.

The committee also took up the matter of dual degree programme of Comsats University and Lancaster University. The members learnt that the Higher Education Commission (HEC), which previously recognised Lancaster’s degree, has now opposed it and will simply accept the Comsats degree.

“HEC does not allow dual degree programmes,” an official from the ministry informed the committee.

The members were informed that students had gone to the Lahore High Court on the issue of being awarded two degrees, Comsats University officials said.

So far, 2, 500 students are part of the dual degree programme from Lancaster, the officials said. The meeting was also informed that Comsats did not seek board approval to offer a dual degree programme, and the students were charged higher fees for the double degree, said the ministry officials.

While the ministry officials said HEC is the regulator of universities and no programme can be started without its permission, members observed that now HEC should allow dual degree.

Children’s lives should not be ruined, they should be given degrees, Senator Asad Junejo added.The committee directed the HEC to withdraw the case from Lahore High Court.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2020