Scientists reluctant to join depts under science ministry, NA body told.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- Members of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Science and Technology were on Monday shocked to know that majority of scientists do not want to join the ancillary departments of the science ministry due to which over 100 posts in the departments were lying vacant.

The committee recommended introducing special pay scales for the employees of Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Pakistan Museum of Natural History and Pakistan Scientific and Technological Information Technology similar to Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC).

Moreover, the committee expressed annoyance after being told that a proposal for the launch of a television channel dedicated for scientific research-based programmes was rejected a few years ago. The lawmakers suggested resubmitting the proposal to the committee.

The meeting chaired by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) MNA Sajid Mehdi was held at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research.

Lawmakers propose special pay scales to attract scientists to fill 100 vacant posts in different departments

PSF Director Dr Mirza Habib Ali informed the committee that science foundations played a vital role in development of countries.

'The budget of United States Science Foundation is $7.5 billion and that of China $3.5 billion. However, the total budget of PSF is Rs230 million and only Rs48 million are allocated for research,' he said.

Dr Ali said over 100 seats, including 40 in the PSF, were lying vacant in the ancillary departments of the ministry because no one wanted to join the departments.

The committee suggested giving special pay scales to the staff of the ancillary departments.

PSF Principal Scientific Officer...