KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: Barely days after assuming charge, the newly appointed Director General of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Dr. Zia Batool whose own appointment is already under judicial scrutiny has triggered a major controversy by reportedly moving to induct four individuals of her choice directly into Grade-19 positions, bypassing advertisement, merit, and statutory procedures.
According to insiders, the proposed appointments include Mr. Naveed Iqbal as Director (Human Resource and Development), Dr. Rukhsana Magsi as Physician, Mr. Zulfiqar Dildaras as Director (Policy and Coordination), and Syed Khurrum Abbas as Director (Operation and Planning).
One of the proposed appointees, Dr. Rukhsana Magsi, is said to be a relative of the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, while the other three have been working under Dr. Batool at the Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Authority (PEIRA) in junior positions.
Sources revealed that Dr. Batool has started pressuring the Secretary PSQCA, Abdul Karim Rind, to process these controversial appointments despite their clear illegality under the PSQCA Act, 1996 and the PSQCA Service Rules, 2015. The Secretary, however, reportedly refused to comply, pointing out that such inductions without advertisement, board approval, or codal formalities would constitute a direct violation of law.
In response, Dr. Batool allegedly threatened to have him repatriated if he did not follow her directives. She has also reportedly asked the Secretary to assign key positions to certain controversial officials within PSQCA who are already facing corruption cases under investigation by NAB and FIA.
Officials point out that the PSQCA Act allows the Authority to create posts and make appointments, but appointments to BPS-20 and above require federal government approval, while appointments to BPS-19 must be made by the Secretary Science and Technology following prescribed service rules. In this case, no such posts as “Directors” in these categories exist in PSQCA’s service regulations, making the move not only irregular but also ultra vires of the law.
The controversy adds to concerns already surrounding Dr. Zia Batool’s own appointment as DG PSQCA, which is being challenged in the Islamabad High Court on grounds of alleged illegality and arbitrariness. She continues to hold dual charge as Chairperson PEIRA and DG PSQCA, a situation raising serious governance questions. Observers warn that the unfolding saga represents the “first shock” to PSQCA under her tenure and risks undermining the authority’s credibility. As one former Commerce Ministry official remarked, “PSQCA is the custodian of standards and quality in Pakistan. If the DG herself disregards merit and law, how can the institution enforce rules on others?”
