Govt Fails to Appoint Chairmans of 11 Science Ministry Entities

The Ministry of Science and Technology is facing a leadership crisis, with only five of its 16 institutions having regular heads. The remaining 11 institutions are being managed by acting or additional charges, which has been the case for some time. For instance, the Pakistan Science Foundation’s chairman post has been vacant since April 27, 2023. Similarly, the National Institute of Electronics’ director-general post has been empty since March 3, 2023. The ministry has initiated efforts to fill the vacant positions, with Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, and Federal Secretary for Science and Technology, Sajid Baloch, taking emergency measures. Interviews for regular appointments of heads of three institutions have been completed, and the top three candidate panels for two institutions, PSQCA and Pakistan Science Foundation, have been sent to the Establishment Division. Some of the institutions without permanent heads include Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology, and National Institute of Oceanography. On the other hand, institutions with regular heads are Pakistan Halal Authority, Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National University of Sciences and Technology, National University of Technology, and Pakistan Engineering Council. The ministry oversees various organizations, including research and development institutions, science and technology universities, and standards and accreditation bodies. These organizations play a crucial role in promoting science and technology in Pakistan.