The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has been informed that investigations into the Rs135 billion hazardous petroleum products scandal in Quetta have been completed and criminal proceedings have been initiated against those responsible. Briefing the committee at Parliament House, the secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology said disciplinary action had been launched against two serving officers while cases of two retired officers were referred to the Federal Investigation Agency on October 15.
Expressing serious concern over delays, the committee directed the FIA to submit a detailed response within ten days. The meeting was chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha and focused on regulatory failures that allowed dangerous petroleum imports to be cleared under the guise of industrial chemicals. The federal minister clarified that factory inspections fall under the mandate of the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority.
Members criticised inspection practices, noting that enforcement often results in clearance of illegal material rather than deterrence. The committee reviewed a range of issues including pre shipment testing policy smuggling of hazardous food items quality control gaps solar panel testing and institutional reforms. The chairman of PCSIR informed the panel that pre shipment testing at borders had been approved by the federal cabinet but its operational framework was still pending.
The minister stressed that once testing is completed consignments must be cleared within fifteen to twenty five days due to the sensitive nature of certain materials. Members warned that prolonged detention could cause financial losses and public health risks. The committee was also briefed on large scale smuggling of substandard supari and gutka through land and sea routes with members highlighting severe cancer risks.
Attention was also drawn to adulteration in spices and harmful additives in cosmetic products such as surma. PEC Chairman Engineer Waseem Nazir briefed the committee on reforms including digital registration through Nadra online services merit based transfers and large scale training programmes including generative artificial intelligence courses for engineers.
The committee further discussed mandatory solar panel testing and was informed that a Korea assisted laboratory capable of conducting forty six tests would soon become operational. Concluding the session the panel called for strict enforcement of standards timely policy implementation transparency in investigations and stronger coordination among regulators to protect public health consumer rights and national interests.
