Establishment Division opposes extension in 3 outgoing chairmen’s tenure

ISLAMABAD: The Establishment Division has returned for second time the summary and recommending extension in the tenure of three chairmen of bodies, working under the Ministry of Science and Technology, including the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources, asking for advertising the posts.

A source in the Division told The News that the ministry had been asked to stick to the summary, recently approved by Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi that all the vacant posts of the various bodies, working under the ministry should be filled through a laid down procedure, which included advertising the posts in newspapers.

Sources in the Ministry of Science and Technology said that separate summaries were sent to the Establishment Division for approval of the prime minister. It is interesting to point out that the ministry had not recommended extension to the two most competent out-going chairmen, whereas three far less qualified heads of departments had been proposed extension for another three years.

This was in contradiction to the approved summary by the prime minister. The Establishment Division also took the plea, while the summary stood its ground, how could these extensions be given to the outgoing chairmen, sources said.

Sources emphasised that keeping in view the importance of the ministry’s bodies, there was a need to formally establish a technical committee, which should carry out performance evaluation of the out-going heads of departments to see, whether or not, any of them were required to be retained for another term purely on the basis of their work. The ministry’s technical committee had not shown satisfaction on the performance of PCRWR chairman, it was learnt.

Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology Senator Osman Saifullah, who is privy to the developments, insisted that the committee had the mandate and responsibility to oversee all the organisations, working under the ministry and hold them accountable.

“We will take up the issue of appointment/extension of Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources or any other department to ensure that the matter is handled purely as per the merit,” he maintained. He said that the matter would be taken up in the upcoming meeting of the Senate committee on January 10.