Employees protest discontinuation of incentives, PSQCA offices closed across major cities, ports

Revenue-based incentives and housing facilities for the department’s employees halted

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), a crucial department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, faced a complete shutdown of its offices in Karachi, Lahore, Hyderabad, Islamabad, and other major cities for the second consecutive day on Friday. This development ensued from a protest organized by PSQCA employees over the discontinuation of their incentives.

Officials reported that not only were offices in various cities closed, but operations at ports were also suspended by employees, affecting the inspection and clearance of select food and non-food items. According to protesting employees, the withdrawal of previously provided incentives has led to this protest.

Previously, employees benefited from incentives equivalent to 10 percent of the revenue generated by PSQCA, disbursed biannually as a performance reward, a practice established by the Board of Directors in 2005. However, recent decisions by the Board have halted this practice, much to the dissatisfaction of the employees.

Furthermore, the Board has allegedly ceased the provision of housing facilities for PSQCA employees in smaller cities. According to an official source, the Ministry, through the board, suspended the facility to employees in response to audit objections regarding bonuses. 

However, employees claim that the Public Accounts Committee had cleared the audit objections. They argue that what the Ministry needed to do is to amend the service rules of the authority, which is a self-financed entity. They allege that the former secretary of MoST, Ali Raza Bhutta, made the decision to withdraw the facility due to personal issues with the authority.

It may be mentioned here that PSQCA, as the National Standard Body (NSB), was established through an Act of Parliament (Act-VI of 1996). Its main functions include formulating National Standards, conducting Conformity Assessments, testing products, and overseeing Metrology.

It enforces marks scheme National Standards under compulsory/voluntary certification marks schemes, and conducts inspection and testing of products and services for their quality specifications and characteristics during use, import, and export purposes. Additionally, PSQCA advises the Government on standardization policies, programmes, and activities to promote industrial efficiency, development, and consumer protection.

Ghulam Abbas
Ghulam Abbas
The writer is a member of the staff at the Islamabad Bureau. He can be reached at [email protected]

2 COMMENTS

  1. Amazing Love Spell To Get Back With your Partner and Fix Your Broken Relationship  WHATSAPP+2349161779461

    My wife broke up with me 3 months ago, and forced me to sign the divorce papers, and I was completely heartbroken. And I could not get back into any shape emotionally. I Thank God for this astonishing and brilliant spell caster that came to my rescue. Wow! This spell caster has helped me so much. Dr Jakuta guaranteed me an urgent 24hrs spell casting, of which I accepted it. Shockingly! this month my wife called me back with lots of apologies after 48hrs which he assured me, and he did everything possible to withdraw the divorce papers which was previously ongoing with the power of this miracle working spell caster. Some people testified that he brought their Ex lover back, some testified that he restores womb, cure cancer, herpes simplex virus and other sickness, Thank you so so so much Lord for your powerful spells. expressions are not sufficient to say than you. Email doctorjakutaspellcaster24@gmail. com. You can also WhatsApp him on +2349161779461

  2. I URGENTLY NEED A VOODOO LOVE SPELL CASTER TO HELP ME GET MY EX BACK 2023/2024
    Email: [email protected]
    Whatsapp: +234 703 166 3661
    This is a very joyful day of my life because of the help Dr Gbogbo has rendered to me by helping me get my ex-husband back with his magic and love spell. I was married for 6 years and it was so terrible because my husband was really cheating on me because I had Fibroids and i couldn’t conceive for my husband because of my Fibroids and my husband was seeking a divorce but when I came across Dr Gbogbo email on the internet on how he helped so many people to get their ex back and help to fix relationships and make people happy in their relationship.  Dr Gbogbo has also restored so many people’s health which includes Herpes, Fibroids, PCOS, Diabetes and many more. I explained my situation to him and then sought his help but to my greatest surprise, he told me that he will help me with my case and then give me a herbal medicine that will help me shrink my Fibroids naturally without undergoing surgery which he really did by giving me the herbal medicine that shrinked my Fibroids naturally without me going for surgery. Here I am now celebrating because my Husband has changed totally for good and I am currently pregnant for him. He always wants to be by me and can not do anything without my presence. I am really enjoying my marriage, what a great celebration. I will keep on testifying on the internet because Dr Gbogbo is truly a real spell caster. Do you really need help? then contact Dr Gbogbo now via Email: [email protected]
    Whatsapp: +234 703 166 3661 He is the only answer to your problem and makes you feel happy in your relationship…

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Must Read

Finance Minister hints at potential rate cut by SBP next month 

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb indicates probable interest rate reduction in June or July, citing a downtrend in inflation and positive outcomes of Saudi Arabia's recent visit