ISLAMABAD: In a surprising move, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) notified promoted officials/employees of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), an attached department of MoST, despite unlawful departmental promotions declared by its own Minister Agha Hassan Baloch.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Agha Hassan Baloch, who took serious notice of unlawful DPC for employees of BS-1-16 and BS-18 to 19 of PSQCA and not only canceled the DPC but also removed head of PSQCA from his post, seems to have again been kept under dark as the ministry has notified promotion of all those included in the DPC.
According to documents available, the Ministry on October 24, 2022 notified the promotion of at least 16 employees despite a clear direction from the federal minister who through a written directive as chairman of PSQCA Board had not only canceled already held DPC but also had postponed the promotion process till appointment of regular Director General of the authority.
Earlier the minister, after coming to know about the DPC, had issued an immediate order of relieving the Director General PSQCA from his post. The notice, as per insiders, was served to the DG Ataur Rehman, who was holding the acting/additional charge since December 2021, during the DPC at the ministry.
The minister had even questioned the DG holding the acting charge of PSQCA without approval from the cabinet, terming the whole process of DPC illegal as his term was not extended after March 25, 2022.
The look after charge of the DG PSQCA was later given to Zainul Abedeen (Joint Scientific Officer) for a period of three months on October 3, 2022.
Earlier it was reported by Pakistan Today that, as per the court order and rules set by the establishment division, an officer holding the acting charge of head of the government organization cannot make policy decisions which includes appointments, promotions etc.
MoST has not been able to fill the post of Director General (DG) PSQCA since the retirement of DG Abdul Aleem Memon on September 25, 2021. As per legal experts even the Additional Charge of DG PSQCA is like a temporary arrangement to cater for the day to day affairs of the organization on an honorary basis.
An office memorandum of the Establishment Division dated March 20, 2020 on the subject of exercise of administrative/ financial powers while holding a look after charge, says the offices entrusted with look after charge are not empowered to take policy decisions. Appointments and promotions do not fall in the category of the day to day business of the organization.
An insider claimed that the minister might have been kept in the dark regarding the notification of promoted employees. According to him the existing DG, who also has to look after the authority was also not mandated to take major decisions in PSQCA. By notifying the unlawful DPC, he has also violated the rules.
