Ministry Fails to Find Suitable Head for PSC

News Desk

ISLAMABAD: The Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has announced it could not identify a suitable candidate from nearly 100 applications for the top position at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR), prompting a decision to re-employ the previous chairman, Dr Syed Hussain Imam Abidi, for another year.

The proposal for Dr Abidi’s re-employment has been authorized by the minister for science and technology and is currently awaiting approval from Adviser to the Prime Minister Dr Syed Tauqir Shah.

The ministry is seeking the federal cabinet’s endorsement through circulation as per Rule 17(1)(b) of the Rules of Business, 1973.

Following the expiration of Dr Abidi’s second tenure, the position was advertised to attract a broader pool of qualified candidates. However, the ministry’s summary indicates that after a thorough scrutiny of the applications, no suitable candidates were identified.

This has led to plans for re-advertising the position to draw in more experienced applicants.

As the ministry prepares to re-advertise the post, stakeholders are concerned about the implications of prolonged leadership vacancies in scientific research institutions, which could hinder progress in critical areas of innovation and development.

The ministry’s next steps will involve finalizing the re-advertisement process and conducting interviews to ensure a qualified candidate is appointed.