ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Wednesday expressed alarm over inadequate food safety measures, particularly the sale of unsafe products such as substandard pickles and tea whiteners falsely labeled as milk.

The meeting was convened to address critical issues, including public health risks, delays in digitalisation and leadership gaps in scientific institutions.

The committee chairman, Senator Kamil Ali Agha, said: “Poison is being sold in the name of food, and there’s no oversight.” He said instructing on immediate action was necessary.

The meeting spotlighted urgent reforms needed in regulatory oversight and governance across the Ministry of Science and Technology.

One major concern raised was the absence of Science Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui from the proceedings.

Senator Agha emphasised the need for ministerial presence, stating, “not having the minister in such crucial discussions is a setback, but our focus must remain on resolving the issues at hand.”

As Science Secretary Sajid Baloch noted that food safety fell under provincial jurisdiction, the committee stressed the role of the Pakistan Standard Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in closing regulatory gaps. “Companies exploit advertising loopholes to evade accountability,” the secretary acknowledged, with the committee urging stronger enforcement and collaboration with provincial authorities.

On the issue of digitalisation of services, the committee voiced frustration over delays in digitalising the fine payment system within the PSQCA, citing corruption risks.

The committee chairman demanded swift implementation, warning that, “if the system isn’t fully operational within two months, we will intervene directly.”

In response, the PSQCA briefed the committee on progress, including the successful introduction of e-filing and integration with Pakistan One Window to streamline operations.

Taking notice of leadership vacancies in scientific institutions, concerns were raised about prolonged vacancies in leadership roles, with 11 out of 16 institutions under the Ministry of Science lacking heads.

The secretary assured the committee that appointments were being prioritised, but a detailed progress report was requested for the next meeting.

On the issue of ministry restructuring, the committee also discussed plans to abolish certain staff positions within the ministry and reassign them to institutions like the National Institute of Electronics (NIE) or the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). Further deliberations are expected to finalise the redistribution of personnel.

The meeting concluded with the committee urging immediate reforms to strengthen food safety, expedite digitalisation and address leadership gaps, underscoring their critical role in advancing public welfare and scientific progress in Pakistan.

Published in Dawn, December 5th, 2024