Senate body wants 2 senators in CCRA Board

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology has recommended including two senators in the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA) Board.

A meeting of the committee was held here chaired by Kamil Ali Agha at the Old PIPS Hall in Parliament Lodges on Monday. The committee discussed the economic potential of cannabis and PCSIR Chairman Dr Hussain Abidi informed that medicinal cannabis had a $30 billion market and was in high demand worldwide. The PCSIR has successfully developed cannabis products, mainly hemp cinnamon tea, hemp ginger tea, hemp jams, hemp cookies and hemp curative oil and shampoo. Additionally, cannabis can be used in textiles, food and construction industry, and it has a market potential of $4 to $5 billion. Given its economic importance, Pakistan has established the Cannabis Control and Regulatory Authority (CCRA). The Board of Governors of the CCRA has been finalized, with the secretary for Defence Division as its chairperson and the chief secretary of each province as its member. The committee recommended that two senators also be made part of the board.

The committee deliberated on the Private Member’s Bill titled “Pakistan Halal Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023.” Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardhy, the bill’s mover, stated that the bill aimed to strengthen the Pakistan Halal Authority as it encompassed guidelines for the enforcement of Halal standards.

Officials from the Ministry of Science and Technology informed that proposed amendments were part of the Pakistan Halal Authority (PHA) Act. Kamil inquired about the existing strength and criteria followed for new recruitments in the PHA. Officials replied that a total of 100 posts were sanctioned and the PHA was currently working with the strength of 38 officials including six inspectors. “The PHA is in the process of fulfilling the remaining sanctioned posts.”

The committee recommended that relevant experience along with a diploma in Halal certification be required for the posts of inspector. Elaborating PHA achievements till date, it was told that it had registered 16 local Halal certification bodies, one foreign certification body and slaughter houses, mainly in Punjab. Furthermore, the committee was briefed on the role and performance of the National Institute of Electronics (NIE).

Acting Director General NIE Zawar Hussain apprised that the major role of the NIE was to carry out design and development and prepare prototypes in vital areas of electronics. The NIE has developed a number of prototypes including processor chips and an electric vehicle kit for small cars and other devices. Additionally, the NIE offers testing of various electronic devices, their capacity and calibration services to government and private institutions at a minimal cost.

The committee appreciated NIE contributions and recommended that the NIE shift its focus towards commercialization of these inventions so that people could benefit from them. The committee also recommended that the NIE revise its service fees, as it will help in making the institution self-sufficient.

Discussing the performance of the Pakistan Science Foundation, Kamil said it was distressing to note that the PSF managed to utilise only 10% of its allocated funds. Dr Saqib Nasir, Project Director of STEM, informed that under STEM projects, 50 labs were established in public schools at a cost of Rs 50 million. However, a major portion of funds couldn’t be utilized due to a ban on the purchase of equipment. The PSF is collaborating with China on the Pak-China Joint Working Group to further STEM footprints in the national curriculum.

The committee decided to have a briefing on STEDEC which is undergoing restructuring as IRADA in the next meeting. The meeting was attended by Nadeem Ahmed Bhutto, Nasir Mehmood Butt, Afnanullah Khan, Aslam Abro, Senior Joint Secretary for Ministry of Science and Technology Rizwan Sheikh, Chairman PCSIR Dr Hussain Abidi, Acting Director General for National Institute of Electronics Zawar Hussain, Managing Director STEDEC Dr Quratulain Syed and senior officers.