Agricultural research council: Panel recommends removal of chairman

PARC Chairman recommended that secretary of National Food Security and Research appoint a new chairman for department

ISLAMABAD: While expressing concern regarding the qualifications of Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Naveed Saleemi, a parliamentary panel on Thursday recommended that the secretary of National Food Security and Research appoint a new chairman for the department within a week. The Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research expressed concern regarding the qualification of the present chairman and asked how a person with a non-technical background is running the business of the organisation. The committee recommended that the most senior scientist from the department be appointed as the new chairman. The panel also decided to raise the issue before the premier, as it blames poor performance on part of PARC as being responsible for negatively affecting agricultural productivity. The panel expressed annoyance over reports of nepotism in the Council, and asked why some persons have been given multiple charges while younger, more efficient employees have been overlooked.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 17^th, 2012.