News Detail

The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology met at Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha to deliberate on a comprehensive agenda covering institutional restructuring, Public Sector Development Programme allocations, and key issues relating to national scientific bodies.

The meeting was attended by the Federal Minister for Science and Technology, along with Senators Husna Bano, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Muhammad Aslam Abro and Senator Afnan Ullah Khan.

The Committee considered the report of its Sub-Committee constituted to examine and recommend resolution of issues between the National University of Sciences and Technology and the Capital Development Authority through appropriate administrative and legal mechanisms.

The report was adopted by the Committee. 

The implementation status of recommendations made in the Committee’s meeting held on December 22, 2025 was deferred for consideration at a subsequent meeting.

The Committee received a detailed briefing on the alleged forced seizure, dismantling and demolition of functional laboratories and federal government assets of the National Institute of Electronics, as well as an agreement executed between the Director General of NIE and the Managing Director of the Indigenous Research and Development Agency in alleged violation of a Federal Cabinet decision.

It was informed that the Federal Cabinet, in its meeting held on January 1, 2025, had directed that NIE be merged with a suitable entity such as NUST, NUTECH or PCSIR, and that a roadmap be presented by January 31, 2025. The Cabinet further directed that if no institution showed interest, the matter may be reassessed, with winding up likely in that scenario.

The case was subsequently considered by the Council of PCSIR, where more than 80 percent of the Council, constituting more than a two-thirds majority, supported the merger of NIE with PCSIR. This decision was conveyed to the Ministry of Science and Technology on August 6, 2025. The Ministry informed the Committee that implementation is currently under process.

Responding to reports that NIE laboratories had been demolished, the Ministry stated that the premises were being renovated. Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha said, “We will call the NIC and take their viewpoint as well whether it was renovated or destroyed.” He further directed that an in-camera meeting be held to examine the details of the matter.

The Committee reviewed the updated position regarding the closure, merger and restructuring of organisations including PCST, CWHR and others under the administrative purview of the Ministry of Science and Technology, with a focus on safeguarding employment, benefits and welfare of employees.

It was informed that the Federal Cabinet, in its meeting held on January 1, 2025, approved the winding up of CHR. The Ministry consulted the Establishment Division regarding human resource matters. The Establishment Division conveyed that civil servants of the organisation would be placed in the surplus pool. A summary for the Prime Minister to repeal the CHR Resolution was submitted through the Establishment Division on January 30, 2026.

Regarding the National Institute of Oceanography, the Cabinet approved that it may be transferred to a university or other maritime institution. COMSATS University Islamabad, NUTECH and NUST were approached for the transfer. COMSATS initially agreed to visit the institute but, after detailed discussions, declined to take over NIO. The Ministry stated that being the only R&D organisation in the country in the field of oceanography, it intends to retain NIO under its administrative control.

In the case of PCRET, it was stated that, as per the Federal Cabinet decision dated January 1, 2025, a summary for the Prime Minister to wind up the organisation was submitted through the Establishment Division on January 30, 2026. Employees, being civil servants, will be placed in the surplus pool, while assets will be transferred to the Ministry.

The Federal Cabinet has also approved winding up of PCST. However, the Ministry conveyed that given its important advisory role to the Federal Government on science and technology, including the National Commission on Science and Technology, it is of the view that PCST should be retained.

Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha directed that all four departments appear before the Committee to give exclusive briefings on whether they should be closed or retained. He remarked, “We are closing these institutions; they should be developed more. This way we are also de-employing experienced staff which we need the most.”

The Chairman further decided that Senator Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto will follow up on whether the Chief Minister of Sindh has undertaken to allocate land for a NUST campus in Karachi.

In compliance with Rule 166(4) of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Senate, 2012, the Committee reviewed the budgetary allocation and utilisation for the current financial year 2025–26 in respect of the Ministry and its attached departments.

For the upcoming fiscal year 2026–27, the Ministry presented a tentative PSDP allocation demand amounting to Rs 9.34 billion.

The total number of projects presented was 38, including 19 ongoing schemes and 19 new schemes, of which 8 are approved and 11 unapproved. The total estimated cost of these projects stands at Rs 53,939.604 million. The demand for PSDP allocation for 2026–27 has been calculated at Rs 9,340.674 million.

The Committee also reviewed proposed PSDP projects of NUST for the next financial year 2026–27.

These include the construction of a girls’ hostel for 815 students under CDWP at a total cost of Rs 2,239.245 million, and the construction of a girls’ hostel for 420 students under DDWP at a total cost of Rs 2,239.245 million.

Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha stated, “The project should be approved.” He further directed that PC-II be revised and feasibility be thoroughly examined.

The Chairman also observed that the Quetta campus is operating at a loss and said that the Chief Minister of Balochistan should provide Rs 200 million to support its operations.

The Committee reviewed the status of PSDP projects of PCSIR approved by DDWP during FY 2023–24 and FY 2025–26. It examined reasons for delay in release of funds and discussed the initiation of new PCSIR projects in compliance with the Prime Minister’s directives.

The Committee emphasised timely release of funds and strict adherence to development timelines to ensure that national scientific institutions remain functional, productive and aligned with the country’s technological advancement goals. The meeting concluded with directions for follow-up briefings, in-camera consultations on sensitive matters, and renewed oversight on institutional restructuring to safeguard national scientific capacity and human resource strength.

---