NA Standing Committee on Science & Technology met under the Charimanship of Ch. Tariq Bashir Cheema, MNA to discuss the following agenda:
 

I)                   Confirmation of minutes of the meeting held on 19th February, 2016

II)                Discussion on a Bill titled “The Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016

III)             Comprehensive briefing on the formulation/working of the National Testing Service (NTS)

The Standing Committee on Science and Technology discussed the “The Pakistan Engineering Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016” in detail and considered the amendments proposed in Section 9, of sub-section (2) of Pakistan Engineering Council Act, 1975 (V of 1976). After detailed deliberations on the said Bill, the Committee agreed with the proposed amendments and unanimously passed the Bill.

The Committee also examined the overall performance/working of the National Testing Service (NTS) and expressed satisfaction over its performance however, the Committee floated some proposals for its betterment. The Committee directed that NTS must upload the results of each advertisement on their websites on same day instead of handed over to the concerned department. The Committee directed NTS to take serious steps for minimizing the applicant fee and also charge once instead of charging against each post in advertisement.

The Committee expressed its concern over the non-existence of any check & balance on the working of these Testing Services however, directed the Ministry to establish a regulatory body in order to monitor the working and performance of NTS and other Testing Services very keenly.

MNAs, Syed Muhammad Athar Hussain Shah Gillani, Mr. Sarzameen, Chaudhary Armaghan Subhani, Makhdoom Syed Ali Hassan Gillani, Ms. Shazia Mubashar, Ms. Musarat Rafique Mahesar, Mr. Aftab Shahban Mirani, Mrs. Shamas-un-Nisa, Mr. Ali Muhammad Khan, Mr. Lal Chand Malhi, Mr. Sajid Ahmed, Mr. Mehboob Alam, Ms. Aliya Kamran, Ms. Shahjehan Muneer Mangrio, Engr. Usman Khan Tarakai attended the meeting, besides officials of the Ministry.