Imran's govt working on policy to bring PayPal to Pakistan

Ministry official says important development expected in two weeks

ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary panel was informed on Monday that the government would introduce PayPal and other such related online payment platforms in Pakistan.

Briefing the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, the Ministry of Science and Technology secretary said, “The policy related to PayPal is at the advanced stage and important development is expected in the next two weeks.”

Speaking on the occasion, Senator Mushtaq Ahmad questioned why Pakistan had no access to PayPal, adding that without such payment systems the country could not boost its trade.

Meanwhile, in an interesting development, the Ministry of Science and Technology Secretary Nasim Nawaz asked the standing committee to discuss important issues instead of making illegal appointments and promotions in the ministry as agenda of the committee meetings.

There were two agenda items for the committee meeting regarding illegal appointments and promotions in various departments of the ministry.

The secretary asked the committee to avoid discussing individual issues like promotions and illegal appointments in the ministry as there were already relevant forums to take up such issues. “There are rules and regulations to deal with such cases,” he added.

However, his suggestion was dismissed by the senators, who said there were issues related to illegal appointments and promotions that had been pending for the past over 17 years.

“We are not interested in discussing these issues here but illegal activities in the ministry and complaints by the affected people force us to take up such matters,” said Ahmed, who chaired the meeting.

Committee members also took strong notice of the absence of minister for science and technology and emphasised that if he failed to attend the next meeting, it would be called off in protest and a privilege motion would be moved.

Also present on the occasion, Comsats University Rector Dr Raheel Qamar complained to the committee that the absence of effective copyright laws was discouraging innovation in the country.

Talking about the research and development efforts made by the university, Qamar said, “These advanced and successful researches do not yield any benefit for the students and even those who will invest in such ventures.

“It is easier to get copyright of any product registered in the US compared to getting it done in Pakistan.”

Published in The Express Tribune, October 8^th, 2019.

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