Expressing dissatisfaction over the performance of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology Wednesday recommended no funds should be issued to PSF without its approval. The Standing Committee, which met with MNA Abdul Qadir Khanzada in the chair, examined the budget requirement of the Ministry of Science and Technology and its subsidiary departments.
All the representatives of the ministry’s various affiliated department were also present on the occasion. Dr Fazal Hassan, Chairman PSF said PSF was running various projects in all the provinces, adding that the PSF had been given only Rs 3.5 million against its demand of Rs 3.4 billion. Dr Fazal further said that the PSF had proposed that it should be provided Rs 2 billion for 2011-12. Pointing out that the word ‘various’ was vague, Chairman Abdul Qadir Khanzada asked the PSF chief to brief the committee about the projects in detail, mentioning the provincial break-up of the projects, their objectives and cost clearly.
Dr Fazal could not answer the question, at which all the members of the committee expressed astonishment and said PSF’s performance was poor, adding that PSF’s budget demand for the year of 2011-12. was unjustified. The committee asked the Ministry of Science and Technology to not to issue any funds to the PSF without informing the committee. Abdul Qadir Khanzada also said the committee would set priorities for future projects of the PSF and a sub-committee would be constituted to monitor it. The committee also directed the chairman PSF to submit a detailed report on all the projects in the next meeting.
Meanwhile, the secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology told the committee that NUST was given Rs 1 billion last year had asked for additional Rs 3 million. The secretary said that he had asked the NUST authorities to report the details of the expenditures which had not been provided yet. Khanzada said that NUST was established by the defence forces and they should also bear the expenses, to which Shahnaz Shaikh MNA, also a member of the Committee, suggested to cut down NUST’s budget by 50 percent.
The chairman of the committee also sought report about Thar Coal Project in the next meeting. The committee was also briefed about the alternative energy resources.
