ISLAMABAD: A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, turned heated on Tuesday as lawmakers took up a wide array of issues ranging from public health concerns to financial scandals and stalled education projects.
The committee was briefed about allegations of chemical contamination in betel nut samples, particularly the presence of aflatoxin, a compound linked to cancer. Reports presented to the committee revealed glaring irregularities, with contamination values allegedly misrepresented in official documents.
Senator Nasir Mehmood strongly questioned the concerned officials over the potential health hazards and demanded strict accountability of those responsible for tampering with results. The chairman decided to defer the agenda item until the return of the Chairman PCSIR, who is currently abroad, noting that the matter will be settled once his report is formally received.
In another major development, the committee examined the inquiry into a staggering Rs135 billion tax scam that rocked PCSIR. Officials informed that the inquiry report has been completed, show-cause notices issued, and penalties imposed on accused employees under the PCSIR C&D Rules, 1981. To ensure deeper accountability, the case has now been referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) through the Ministry of Science and Technology, nominating both serving and retired employees allegedly involved.
The committee also deliberated on the findings of a recent study on solar extremes and cloudbursts, with experts warning that widespread deforestation is intensifying Pakistan’s vulnerability to such climate disasters. Senators underscored the urgent need for nationwide reforestation drives and comprehensive mitigation strategies to address these environmental risks.
Another key agenda item was the long-delayed establishment of a COMSATS University campus in Quetta, approved back in 2016. Members expressed serious concern over the nearly decade-long delay caused by funding constraints, stressing that such setbacks undermine efforts to expand higher education in Balochistan. The committee urged immediate allocation of funds to ensure the project’s timely completion.
The committee also turned its focus to issues plaguing COMSATS University Islamabad. Lawmakers voiced alarm over its prolonged ad-hoc administrative setup and the absence of permanent appointments to statutory posts including Rector, Pro-Rectors, and Campus Directors. They also discussed the longstanding demand to replace the existing OG/SG pay system with the national Basic Pay Scale (BPS) to ensure fair treatment of faculty and staff, along with transparency in the management of university funds as flagged by the Auditor General’s 2017–18 report.
University officials informed the committee that a three-member sub-committee has been formed by the University Senate to examine these matters. It was further revealed that periodic audits have been conducted, though senators demanded a detailed, point-wise response from the university in the next meeting.
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