ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary body on Tuesday expressed concern over the import of hazardous petrol adulterants worth Rs135 billion by the Pakistan Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR). The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology was convened at the Parliament House under the chairmanship of Senator Kamil Ali Agha to address key issues related to the Ministry of Science and Technology. Senators Husna Bano, Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Mohammad Aslam Abro and Dr Afnanullah Khan were also in attendance. Describing the matter as “serious”, committee members expressed concerns over the alleged involvement of PCSIR officials in “illicit activities” and stressed the need for accountability. Furthermore, the committee called for an upgrade of PCSIR’s testing facilities, which currently covered only 12 parameters for petroleum products. The proposed upgrade included a Rs800 million project to modernise the labs and introduce digital testing procedures. The committee was also briefed on the progress of the PAK-Korea solar panel research collaboration project, aimed at enhancing Pakistan’s renewable energy infrastructure. While the project had been funded with a $9.5 million grant, installation of necessary equipment was pending due to required upgrades to the electricity connections, the committee was informed. The body was assured that approval had been granted and work would soon proceed. The meeting had opened with concerns about the prolonged delays in issuing notifications for the nominations of senators to various boards and councils under the ministry. Senator Agha expressed frustration over the slow formalisation of these appointments, despite prior ratification by the committee. Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui confirmed that the nominations were still in process, but added that the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Rightsising had recommended winding down the Pakistan Council for Science, halting a nomination for Senator Saeed Ahmed Hashmi to the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Board of Governors. In response, the chairman requested a formal update on the fate of the council and other affected departments to facilitate alternative arrangements for these appointments. The committee also discussed the delays in nominations for Senators Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari and Dost Mohammad Khan to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Advisory Council and the Pakistan Halal Authority Board of Governors. Senator Agha urged that despite unclear reasons for the delays, prompt follow-up was crucial to ensure that all notifications were issued without further hindrances. A major topic during the meeting was the development of universities, especially in underserved and rural areas. The rector of Comsats University briefed the committee on the institution’s expansion plans, which, according to Senator Agha, had not sufficiently focused on rural regions. Many students from these areas were still being forced to migrate to larger cities for higher education. The committee suggested inviting the Higher Education Commission (HEC) to discuss the challenges faced in university expansion and funding, particularly in remote areas. The committee also addressed academic integrity concerns at Comsats University, particularly about plagiarism and research development in the context of artificial intelligence. The university highlighted efforts to improve standards for acceptable research repetition and to address challenges posed by emerging technologies. Additionally, progress on the Comsats University Quetta campus was reviewed. Originally approved in 2015, the campus development had been slow, despite the allocation of 150 acres of land by the Balochistan government. The committee recommended expedited action on the project, urging the Ministry of Science and Technology to follow through with plans for a temporary campus in Quetta City, which is still under review. The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology emphasised the need for greater transparency and efficiency in the management of science and technology projects.