Prime Minister Directs Contract Termination After Inquiry
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the removal of Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Director General Dr Syeda Zia Batool.
The decision followed an inquiry into allegations of administrative and financial irregularities at the federal regulatory authority.
The Prime Minister’s Office reportedly instructed the Ministry of Science and Technology on July 13 to terminate Batool’s contract appointment.
The ministry was also directed to submit the matter to the federal cabinet.
The cabinet is the appointing authority for officers hired under the Management Position Scale Policy 2020, according to the report.
The Ministry of Science and Technology subsequently issued a notification ending Batool’s contract.
However, the allegations against her have not been established by a court.
PSQCA had not issued a detailed public response when the removal was initially reported.
The inquiry was launched after complaints were reportedly received through media reports, the Prime Minister’s Portal and other official channels.
A fact-finding committee formed by the ministry examined documentary evidence and Batool’s written response.
Sources claimed that the committee found the complaints to be established.
However, the full inquiry report has not been publicly released.
Islamabad High Court Suspends Termination Order
The Islamabad High Court suspended the ministry’s termination notification on July 16.
The interim order restored Batool to her position as PSQCA director general while the legal challenge continues.
The court issued notices to the government respondents and directed them to submit replies within two weeks.
A government law officer was also instructed to appear before the court on July 30.
The court’s intervention means the Prime Minister’s removal directive has not taken final effect.
PSQCA’s official website continued to identify Dr Syeda Zia Batool as its director general following the court order.
The dispute will now depend on further court proceedings and the government’s response.
The Islamabad High Court has not issued a final judgment on the legality of Batool’s appointment or termination.
The suspension order is an interim measure and does not decide the allegations against her.
The ministry has also sought retrospective approval from the federal cabinet for the termination decision.
It has requested approval to initiate disciplinary proceedings under the PSQCA Act, 1996, and the relevant Management Position Scale rules.
Government Orders Recovery and Institutional Reforms
The Prime Minister’s Office reportedly directed the ministry to begin disciplinary proceedings against officials identified during the inquiry.
It also ordered the recovery of any financial benefits or official privileges found to have been obtained unlawfully.
Any recovery would require documentary verification and action under the relevant legal and administrative procedures.
The ministry was instructed to process the required cabinet summary through the Establishment Division within the prescribed period.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also ordered the formation of a high-level committee of experts and professionals.
The committee will review PSQCA’s organisational structure and recommend institutional reforms.
The move suggests the government intends to examine wider governance issues instead of limiting action to one official.
PSQCA is Pakistan’s national standards body.
It is responsible for standardisation, product quality oversight, conformity assessment and consumer protection.
The authority has also been working on laboratory modernisation, digital infrastructure and improvements to national quality systems.
Batool’s appointment had previously faced questions over eligibility, technical experience and legal challenges connected with the selection process.
Those earlier objections were reported before she assumed leadership of the authority.
The latest dispute has created uncertainty over PSQCA’s leadership.
The federal government supports her removal, while the Islamabad High Court has temporarily allowed her to continue serving.
A final decision will depend on future judicial proceedings, cabinet action and the government’s formal response to the court.
