Islamabad, December 22, 2025: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology on Monday held an extensive meeting at Parliament House, raising serious concerns over the smuggling of hazardous food items, delays in pre-shipment testing, substandard solar equipment, and weaknesses in quality control and enforcement mechanisms. The meeting was chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and attended by Senators Husna Bano, Dr. Muhammad Aslam Abro, Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan, and Saeed Ahmed Hashmi, along with Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi and senior officials from key regulatory and scientific institutions.
During the meeting, the Committee deliberated on critical issues including the pre-shipment testing policy, smuggling of spoiled betel nut (supari) and gutka, the Rs135 billion hazardous petroleum products scandal in Quetta, food adulteration, solar panel and inverter testing, and ongoing institutional reforms in bodies such as PCSIR, PSQCA, and PEC. The Chairman of the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) informed the Committee that while the federal cabinet has approved the implementation of pre-shipment testing at borders, the operational mechanism is yet to be finalized. The Federal Minister stressed that once testing begins, consignments should be cleared within 15 to 25 days, warning that unnecessary delays could cause financial losses and health hazards, especially for sensitive materials. Committee members echoed these concerns, calling for a streamlined and time-bound clearance process.
The Committee was briefed on the alarming smuggling of substandard supari and gutka through sea and land routes. Members highlighted that spoiled and chemically treated products pose severe public health risks, including cancer. Senator Dr. Afnan Ullah Khan strongly advocated for a complete ban on gutka consumption, citing its widespread health impacts. The Chairman PCSIR emphasized that stricter monitoring is needed at the supply and transportation stages, noting that illegal consignments often move from coastal areas to factories before entering consumer markets.
On the Quetta petroleum scandal, the Secretary Ministry of Science and Technology informed the Committee that investigations into the Rs135 billion case have been completed. Disciplinary proceedings have been initiated against two serving officers, while cases against two retired officers were referred to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on October 15. Expressing dissatisfaction over delays, the Committee directed the FIA to submit a detailed response within ten days, stressing the need for transparency and accountability.
The Committee also examined the role of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) in factory inspections and enforcement. Members voiced concern that inspections sometimes result in clearance of illegal materials rather than effective action. Issues of food adulteration, including harmful additives in spices like turmeric and chemicals used in products such as kohl (surma), were also discussed, with calls for stricter enforcement and penalties.
Chairman Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Engineer Waseem Nazir, briefed the Committee on institutional reforms, stating that transfers were made strictly on merit and that several “Smart PEC” initiatives have been launched. He informed that PEC has digitized services in collaboration with NADRA, enabling online registration and issuance of engineering cards through Pak-Identity, including batch-wise registration of university graduates. He added that PEC has launched a Generative Artificial Intelligence course for 45,000 engineers, with 15,000 already trained, and announced a Chartered Project Directors course scheduled for March–April 2026. Mutual recognition agreements for engineers have been signed with China, with similar agreements planned with Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Additionally, a Graduate Engineer Trainee Program offering six-month paid training with a monthly stipend of Rs50,000 has been initiated.
A dedicated discussion was held on the mandatory testing of solar panels, inverters, and batteries, amid growing concerns over the influx of substandard equipment. The Secretary informed the Committee that a Korea-assisted testing laboratory will soon become operational, capable of conducting at least 46 different tests on solar panels. Members warned that poor-quality solar equipment poses environmental, safety, and financial risks to consumers and emphasized the urgency of comprehensive testing before market entry.
PSQCA officials briefed the Committee on existing standards for food, non-food, and electrical materials, noting that nicotine testing standards have recently been introduced and that licenses are suspended or cancelled in cases of violations. Addressing concerns about tea whitener, officials clarified that it meets PSQCA standards, has no nutritional value, and does not pose health risks within approved limits, though members urged continuous monitoring due to chemical usage.
Concluding the meeting, the Senate Standing Committee emphasized the need for strict enforcement of quality standards, timely implementation of approved policies, expeditious completion of investigations, and enhanced coordination among regulatory bodies. The Committee stressed that safeguarding public health, consumer rights, and national interests must remain a top priority in Pakistan’s science, technology, and quality control framework.
