No.Dy.97/XIII-TSO(Ch)

Pakistan Agricultural Research Council

Islamabad

*****

May 22, 2013

Subject: Record Notes of 7TH Meeting of the Association of Former PARC Scientists (AFPS) Held on 21-5-2013

Meeting of the Association of Former PARC Scientists (AFPS) was held at PARC Headquarters on 21st May 2013 at 1600 hours. List of participants is attached as Annex-A. Following discussion and decisions were taken:

1.  Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman, PARC requested Dr. Amir Muhammed to Chair the meeting. Dr. Amir shared several reasons and developments that prompted to call AFPS members for this meeting. These reasons included the fate of PARC after the 18th Amendments, PARC’s Independent Third Party Evaluation (ITPE) Report, pension and medical treatment issues, and the current leadership issues at PARC

PENSION AND MEDICAL ISSUES:

2.  Members of the AFPS appreciated Chairman PARC’s prompt actions with regard to payments of increased pension arrears and most of the pending medical bills. However, some members suggested that whenever a change in payment of pension or in medical rules is implemented, the same should be shared with all pensioners through a notification.

3.  Chairman PARC informed the participants that like PARC regular employees, the pensioners will also get their pension slip just like a salary slip for PARC regular employees. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, further informed that for those pensioners who live in Islamabad, this practice has already started since April 2013. It was suggested during the meeting that the pensioners who maintain an email address can opt to receive their pension slip by email. Mr. Waseem Saleem, Deputy Director (Pension) will be given the email address of all those who opt to receive their pension slip by email.

4.  Dr. U.K. Baloch requested that procedural change for allowing urgent medical treatment (admission to any hospital) be made easy. He was of the view that once a medical practitioner has recommended a treatment then any Assistant Director of Medical Branch should be authorized to issue a letter of approval. Currently it is only the Chairman who authorizes such approvals.

5.  Dr. Amir Muhammed and other members of AFPS commended the efforts of Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC for bringing huge financial resources and clearing the backlogs.

SCENARIO WITH THE CURRENT POLITICAL CHANGE:

6.  After discussing the pension and medical issues, the meeting diverted towards the current political change in which the new government is likely to implement the 18th amendment in its true sense. Therefore, most of the AFPS members were of the view that the continuation of the newly created ministries including the Ministry of National Food Security and Research could be in danger. Chairman PARC explained to the participants that whatever may be the situation, the existence of PARC as an institution shall not be affected although it may again be transferred to some other ministry. Dr. Amir Muhammed was of the view that Ministry of Science and Technology seems more appropriate where PARC can operate with more autonomous status if the Ministry of Food Security ceases to exist. However, Dr. Waqar A. Malik’s opinion was that if PARC is operated under Cabinet Secretariat, similar to PAEC that would be better.

7.  Dr. Amir Muhammed suggested that a two to three page brief of PARC may be shared with him so that he can initiate some ground work with Mr. Sartaj Aziz who shall be holding an important portfolio in the next government.

CURRENT LEADSHIP STATUS AT PARC:

8.  Based on several news items in the National Dailies, some members asked Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC about the background and the current position of the leadership crisis at PARC. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad briefed the participants about the status and informed that as the case is in Islamabad High Court, therefore, until the decision is made he shall continue to be the Chairman PARC, due to a stay order granted to him by the honourable court.

9.  Dr. Amir Muhammed suggested writing the facts to Establishment Division and also informing Khawaja Muhammad Asif who has filed a petition in the Honourable Supreme Court wherein the interim government has exceeded in postings, transfers and termination / appointments of Heads of some organizations. It was also suggested that some members of AFPS will voluntarily write letter to editors for various English/Urdu dailies, provided they are furnished with some basic write-up. All members of the AFPS assured their full support to Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad as Chairman PARC and appreciated that he took a bold step by knocking the doors of the Court for a valid and genuine reason. Mr. G N Shahid, offered his services to TSO to Chairman, PARC for the preparation of a brief

STATUS OF THE SOYABEAN PROJECT:

10.  Towards the end of the meeting, Dr. H.U. Hussnain and Dr. Akhtar Beg asked the fate of the Soybean project that Dr. Beg had submitted for funding through ALP. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad explained to the members that the project is in the pipeline and will get approved for implementation in due course. Dr. Amir urged that the approval process may be speeded up so that the project could start field work at the next sowing season thus saving a year.

MISCELLANEOUS ITEM:

11.  It was also suggested that the new government is likely to open agriculture trade with India; therefore, a social scientist from PARC should present his findings as to how this trade shall affect Pakistani farmers and the overall agriculture sector of Pakistan. This presentation will be made during the next AFPS meeting likely to be held by 15th June 2013.

2. The meeting ended with a vote of thanks to the chair.

(Dr. Syed Ghazanfar Abbas)

Focal Person - AFPS

All Concerned

All Concerned

Cc: i) PS to Chairman

ii) DG, NARC

iii)  Secretary, PARC

iv)  Director (Finance), PARC

v)  Director (L&GA), PARC


Annexure ‘A’

LIST OF PARTICIPANTS OF THE AFPS MEETING

HELD ON 21-5-2013 AT PARC AT 1600 HRS.

1. Dr. Amir Muhammed , Founding Chairman PARC

2. Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, Chairman PARC

3. Dr. U.K. Baloch, Former Chairman PARC

4. Dr. Abdul Rashid, Former DG

5. Dr. N.I. Hashmi, Former DG

6. Mr. H.U. Hasnain, Former Member (AS)

7. Mr. G.N. Shahid, Former Secretary PARC

8. Dr. Waqar A. Malik, Former Member (SSD)

9. Dr. Naazar Ali, Ex-CSO

10. Mr. Naseer Alam Khan, Ex.CSO

11. Dr. Zahoor Ahmad, Ex-CSO

12. Dr. Akhtar Beg, Ex. Director (CP) PARC

13. Mr. H. Hashim Laghari, Former Director PARC

14. Dr. Munir Ahmad, CSO/Secretary PARC

15. Dr. Syed Ghazanfar Abbas, TSO to Chairman

16. Ch. Shaukat Ali, Director (L&GA) PARC

17. Sardar Ghulam Mustafa, Director (PR&P)

18. Mr. Shabbir Ahmad, Director (Finance)

19. Mr. M. Waseem Saleem, DD (Pension)

20. Mr. Muhammad Saleem, AO(Pension)

21. Mr. Sahib Noor, AD (Admn)