Status in limbo: NISTE not yet a degree-awarding institute

Additional DG hopes the status will be upgraded ‘soon’.

ISLAMABAD: It has been over nine months since a bill to upgrade the status of the National Institute of Science and Technical Education (NISTE) to a degree-awarding institute was tabled in the National Assembly, but the issue remains in limbo.

Former Prime Minister (PM) Yousuf Raza Gilani approved of the institute’s up-gradation and notified the then Capital Administration Development Division (CADD) and Federal Minister for Communications Arbab Alamgir to complete the task.

However, after CADD was morphed into a ministry, now called the Ministry of Capital Administration & Development (MoCA&D), by the incumbent PM Raja Pervaiz Ashraf, NISTE’s up-gradation was handed over to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Capital Administration and Development and deferred.

Officials of NISTE said one of the reasons why the up-gradation has been delayed is that there is no permanent director general appointed at the institute. The last DG of NISTE was Fareed Khwaja, who served from 1997 to 2004 and then from 2006 to 2009, they said.

Another NISTE official said on the condition of anonymity the reason why no permanent DG has been appointed at the institute is because the CAD has barred the Federal Public Service Commission from appointing one at NISTE.



The decision was influenced by the devolution of the Ministry of Education under the 18th Constitutional Amendment, said the official. When every other additional DG appointed [at NISTE] knows he/she will be staying there for only a short span, they not take interest in resolving its issues, the official added.

Ghayoor Sultana, the incumbent Additional DG of NISTE said the issue of appointment of a permanent DG is “hindering the independent and smooth functioning of this institute.” She said the process is in its concluding stages and hoped that the institute will be made a degree-awarding institute soon. “We have briefed the National Assembly and are expecting good news soon,” she said.

Secretary MoCA&D could not be reached on her cell phone till the filing of this report.

NISTE is spread over 26 acres in Sector H-8 and has a workforce of over 200 employees. It used to function under the Ministry of Education, but after the passage of the 18th amendment, it serves under the MoCA&D.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 3^rd, 2013.