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The Ministry of Science and Technology is grappling with a leadership crisis, with only five of its 16 institutions currently having permanent heads. The remaining 11 institutions are being managed on an interim basis, with positions held by acting officials or those with additional charges for extended periods.
The chairmanship of the Pakistan Science Foundation has been vacant since April 27th, 2023, and the director-general position at the National Institute of Electronics has been vacant since March 3rd , 2023. This is particularly noteworthy. The ministry’s capacity to operate efficiently has been called into question due to the absence of permanent leadership at these critical institutions.
Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, and Sajid Baloch, the Federal Secretary, have implemented emergency measures to resolve the shortages. The top panels of candidates for two critical organizations, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and the Pakistan Science Foundation, have been forward to the Establishment Division, and interviews for the regular appointments of heads of three institutions have already been completed.
The National Institute of Oceanography, Pakistan Council for Renewable Energy Technology, and Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission are among the institutions that lack permanent leadership. In contrast, the Pakistan Halal Authority, Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, National University of Sciences and Technology, National University of Technology, and the Pakistan Engineering Council have appointed permanent directors.
The Ministry of Science and Technology is responsible for the oversight of a diverse array of organizations, such as research and development institutions, science and technology universities, and standards and accreditation authorities. These organizations are indispensable for the advancement of science and technology in Pakistan. The ministry’s capacity to advance these sectors has been called into question due to the leadership vacuum that exists within these critical institutions.
