Senate Standing Committee on Science & Technology in its meeting Friday expressed serious concerns over hospitals’ waste being taken out of the premises as there was no proper facility to dispose it of scientifically.
The lawmakers were further shocked to learn that there was no such facility in the country to ascertain that children’s toys or drinking straws were not made from hospital waste.
The senators were presented a report that revealed that the main responsibility lay with the hospitals that let the waste go out of the premises and didn’t have incinerators to dispose it.
The Committee decided to hold a joint meeting with the health committee on the matter so that the matter could be discussed at length and the root cause could be identified by calling all departments that come under both ministries.
The Senate committee while discussing reports of corruption cases in Pakistan Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (PCSIR) was told that there were no corruption cases in Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PCSIR), however, the ministry itself had approached National Accountability Bureau to retrieve some of the precious Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PCSIR) land in Lahore.
It was told that two plots worth approximately US$40 million were illegally occupied by some mafia and were being misused in activities not distantly related to the institution’s mandate.
The land covers an area of 17 and 21 kanals at two separate locations.
The committee was told that the same land after possession will be used for projects in public private partnership for science and technology initiatives.
The meeting was held with Senator Mushtaq Ahmed in chair at the Parliament House and was attended among others by Senators Nuzhat Sadiq, Gianchand, Syed Sabir Shah, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Secretary Science and Technology and officials.
Regarding issues of appointments and promotions in Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), Chairman Committee observed that matters relating to Pakistan Standards & Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) have been on agenda of the committee for long and the issues are not solving.
The issues of delay in genuine promotions and some irregular appointments were also discu-
ssed.
Three specific cases whereby two were related to delays in promotions and service matters while the third was about irregular appointment were discussed.
The Secretary told the meeting that the genuine case of promotion of media advisor will be done with in next Departmental Promotional Committee.
The committee discussed in detail the sub-committee report on the matter.
The committee was of the view that individuals with inquiries pending against them should be suspended till the inquiry comes to a conclusion.
The minister agreed with the committee’s view and told that most of such persons were already suspended and if the committee found any remaining people, the ministry would comply with the direction.
The committee sought the list of suspended officials in next meeting.
