RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: A National Assembly panel on Tuesday directed the Establishment Division for formation of an authority to regulate the private testing agencies, besides ordering an inquiry into the leakage of papers of the tests conducted by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department.

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, which met with MNA Syed Amin-ul-Haque in the chair, discussed the matter related to the affairs of various private testing agencies across the country and objections over their credibility.

The committee members exchanged views on the issue of malpractices and leakages of papers of tests conducted by National Testing Service (NTS) in 13 districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Taking notice of the situation, the committee directed the Establishment Division to work out a proposal for setting up an authority to regulate the private testing agencies and address the concerns of the students, candidates and other stakeholders.

The panel also directed the authorities concerned for an early completion of an ongoing probe into the paper leakage of tests conducted for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department.

The matter was referred to the committee on a question raised by MNA Sahibzada Sibghatullah for discussion.

After a thorough discussion, the committee noted that there was a need for formation of a body to regulate all the testing agencies following multiple instances of mismanagement, corrupt practices and non-transparency had been reported. The panel directed the rector COMSATS University and the CEO of NTS to finalize the ongoing inquiry into the whole fiasco within 45 days and submit report to the committee.

While discussing the progress on infrastructure development projects in Karachi, under the execution management of Sindh Infrastructure Development Company Limited (SIDCL), the committee directed its management to complete the ongoing projects as soon as possible.

The committee also directed the authorities concerned to expedite the process of provision of fire tenders and snorkels to the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation under the Prime Minister package.

The committee was given a comprehensive briefing on the working and performance of the SIDCL by its senior officials.

The committee members pointed out that completion of Green Line Mass Transit System would help the people of Karachi commute between their residences and the workplace. They said that the project will also help in easing the burden on the road network of the metropolis and will be helpful in maintaining the ecosystem.

The committee, while discussing two private members’ bills seeking constitutional amendments moved by Aliya Kamran and Salahuddin Ayubi separately, directed the Establishment Division to bring the two bills for discussion in the next meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Disposal of Legislative Cases.

Taking up the starred question moved by MNA Abdul Qadir Patel regarding non-compliance with corporate social responsibility (CSR) responsibilities by Karachi Nuclear Power Plant, the committee directed for provision of details of initiatives taken under CSR for the people of the area.

The committee was of consensus opinion that all the industrial units established in public sector should fulfill their obligations for the betterment and uplift of area of their location.

The meeting was attended by Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Mohammad Khan, and committee members including Ali Nawaz Awan, Uzma Riaz, Rana Iradat Sharif Khan, Seema Mohiuddin Jameeli, Syed Mehmood Shah and Mohsin Dawar, and movers including Sahibzada Sibghatullah, Abdul Qadir Patel and Aliya Kamran, and senior officials of the Establishment Division, Cabinet Secretariat, Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and other departments concerned.