Agriculture research council: Ministry takes notice of alleged nepotism

Administration accused of hiring relatives in key posts

ISLAMABAD: After receiving various complaints, the Ministry of National Food Security and Research has taken serious notice of violation and nepotism in the recruitment of more than 300 employees in the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (Parc) and has asked the management to review the hiring process.

A senior official in the ministry told The Express Tribune that after receiving scores of complaints and objection to alleged nepotism in the recruitment process, the ministry has asked the Parc management to review the process and report its findings to the ministry.

The Parc administration, allegedly in connivance with the ex-secretary of food security and research and ex-chairman of Parc, managed to induct near and dear ones of those who held key positions in the management.

Parc had recruited more than 300 employees last year, before the retirement of former chairman Dr Iftikhar Ahmed.

Some of those disenchanted with the recruitment process have already approached different institutions including the ministry, Federal Investigation Agency and Federal Ombudsman.

The Pakistan Agriculture Research Association has also called for a review of the process and has pressed to ensure merit. However, sources said the entire top management has benefitted from these irregularities and they were least interested in reviewing the process and are using delaying tactics.

Sources said in order to manipulate the process, the Parc management did not display the National Testing Service (NTS) list, called only the near and dear ones for interviews and ignored those applicants who scored higher in written tests.

It was learnt that against each advertised post, the management recruited candidates higher than the advertised number to accommodate their relatives, for instance 17 clerks were appointed against advertised posts for only four.

Sources further said one director managed to appoint his two sons on high-grade positions.

Another director, who was on deputation on a key post from the Establishment Division, also managed to appoint three relatives, including one as assistant security officer and another as senior editor in the publication section.

It was also learnt that Parc also ignored the laid-down rules and procedures that specifically limit regular employees to just 30% of those recruited, while the remaining will remain on contractual positions. However, this policy has not been followed by the management in the recruitment process.

Recently, the Prime Minister Secretariat also strictly directed Parc to stop any further recruitment and cease expansion or construction of buildings, and redirect its focus on research and value addition to ensure food security in the country.

The other side

Meanwhile, the PARC management declined to give its version when contacted in this regard.

PARC Director Establishment Mustaeem Ahmed Alvi and Muhammad Tariq, the Secretary Council of PARC, were unable to respond to all queries.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 30^th,  2016.

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