ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Law and Justice has advised the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to resolve legal obstacles before proceeding with the appointment of the Director General (DG) of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), a post vacant for several years due to repeated controversies.
According to sources, the Prime Minister’s Office recently returned the summary for the DG’s appointment to MoST, asking for further process and clarification. Officials within the ministry noted that the PM Office had not been informed of pending court cases and legal complications surrounding the appointment. Following internal discussions, the ministry sought legal guidance, and the Law Division advised that all court cases and objections be addressed before resubmitting the summary for cabinet approval.
At present, two court cases are pending regarding the appointment process, while one of the candidates has also lodged a formal complaint against the shortlisting procedure. The complainant alleges that the top-ranked candidate does not meet the advertised criteria for qualifications and experience required for this highly technical MP-I Scale post.
Mr. Akhtar Bugyo, who currently serves as DG of the Pakistan Halal Authority, has challenged the shortlisting of Ms. Zia Batool, contending that she lacks both the requisite academic qualifications and technical experience needed for the PSQCA position, as advertised. She was also not part of the previously held interviews of the post.
Despite multiple interventions and court directions to fill the post as per MP-I rules, the process has been stalled due to repeated attempts to recommend candidates lacking the necessary technical background. Sources claim that Ms. Batool was placed at the top of the list despite her career being primarily in education management, serving five years as Chairperson of the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA), over two years with the Punjab Higher Education Department, and a decade with the Higher Education Commission (HEC).
However, the role of DG PSQCA demands specialization in technical fields such as standardization, conformity assessment, product testing, labeling, quality assurance, and regulatory processes—particularly related to imports and exports.
The second shortlisted candidate also reportedly lacks relevant experience, having spent over 15 years at Bahauddin Zakariya University focusing on academic quality assurance, plagiarism control, and thesis evaluation, areas not aligned with PSQCA’s regulatory scope.
In contrast, the third candidate on the panel is said to have direct experience with PSQCA operations and is regarded by insiders as the only technically suitable nominee shortlisted in the summary though there were also candidates having technical and qualification backgrounds in the interview.
The selection process was overseen by Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi, MoST Secretary Sajid Baloch, and other board members. However, this is the third time the ministry has attempted to push through a candidate deemed controversial or underqualified, previous attempts were rejected by both the Establishment Division and the federal cabinet.
Just few months ago the cabinet turned down a similar summary citing non-compliance with the advertised criteria. Officials within MoST say the delay in finalizing the appointment stems from continued efforts to nominate individuals who fall short of the required qualifications.
Interestingly a legal question on the appointment of the PSQCA head has also been raised after lapsing the 120 days of appointment of someone on MP-I scale after advertisement of the post. The Establishment Division, through a memorandum dated June 4, 2024, has instructed all federal entities, to ensure that recruitment processes are finalized within 120 days of advertising the vacancies.
