
The 6th meeting of the Standing Committee on Science and Technology was held today in Committee Room 7 at the Parliament House in Islamabad. The meeting, chaired by Mr. Khawaja Sheraz Mehmood, MNA, addressed key issues concerning the performance and governance of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA).
The agenda included a comprehensive briefing by PSQCA, which reviewed the Authority’s performance over the past three years. The presentation highlighted PSQCA’s achievements, the challenges it faces in achieving its objectives—particularly in technology, innovation, and industrial collaboration—and provided an overview of its operational setup, resource allocation, and structural challenges.
The Committee stressed the urgent need for the appointment of a permanent Director General (DG) of PSQCA, emphasizing that permanent leadership is critical for the efficient functioning of the Authority. Additionally, the Committee expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of permanent heads in other key institutions under the Ministry of Science and Technology. It urged the Ministry to expedite the appointment process, underscoring that improved governance and institutional performance rely on having permanent leadership in place.
The Committee also recommended that the Minister of Science and Technology attend all future committee meetings to ensure productive discussions and meaningful outcomes. The Standing Committee reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s science and technology sector by addressing governance challenges and ensuring effective management of related institutions.
The Committee pledged to continue its efforts to enhance the performance and accountability of institutions under the Ministry, recognizing their vital role in the country’s socio-economic development.
The meeting was attended by MNAs Mr. Muhammad Afzal (via Zoom), Ms. Shahnaz Saleem Malik, Mr. Irfan Ali Leghari, Mr. Ramesh Lal, Mr. Sher Afzal Khan, Mr. Khurram Shahzad Virk, Mian Ghous Mohammad, and Mr. Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan, along with senior officers from the Ministry of Science and Technology and PSQCA.