The committee discussed 'The COMSATS University, Islamabad Bill, 2017' (passed by the Senate) in detail. Minister for Science and Technology, Rana Tanveer said that the COMSATS has been run for the last 17 years and should be given the status of university. COMSATS is still an institute and not a university, he added. The committee chairman said that they have to move forward as per the rules. The COMSATS has not even the record of last 15 years.
The committee directed the secretary Ministry of Science and Technology, chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) and rector COMSATS to examine the observations of some of the members of the committee and stakeholders and submit proposals in this regard within seven days so that committee can consider them accordingly. Therefore, the committee deferred further discussion on the bill till its next meeting. The committee later constituted a four-member subcommittee, headed by MNA Ali Muhammad Khan, to suggest measures for resolving problems faced by the employees of the PCRWR. The subcommittee would submit its report within 30 days.
The committee expressed concerns over the misappropriation in the NTS and directed that ministry may hold an impartial inquiry to bring the culprits to justice. The committee observed that several senior level posts at the NTS are being run on ad hoc basis, while many of its employees having fake degrees. Even the CEO and director of NTS are not regular appointees.
Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Mukhtar Ahmad said that some people operated the NTS as a private entity in the government building, but measures have been taken to streamline its affairs. Now the NTS is a government institution, he added. The committee members asked whether the NTS employees are being hired through NTS. The minister said that action was taken over the leakage of a question paper in Sindh. The chairman committee said that the NTS has made a joke of the committee and it should be closed.
The committee decided to have comprehensive briefing about the performance of NTS and deferred the issue till next meeting for further discussion. The committee also directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) to attend the next meeting. The meeting was attended by MNAs namely Chaudhary Armaghan Subhani, Makhdoom Syed Ali Hassan Gillani, Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Aftab Shaban Mirani, Shamas-un-Nisa, Ali Muhammad Khan, Lal Chand Malhi, Sajid Ahmad, Aliya Kamran and Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio, and officials from concerned departments.