ISLAMABAD: Once again, the Establishment Division (ED) has ordered the merger of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) into Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU). A letter issued in this regard, a copy of which is available with Daily Times, states that all official matters of PIMS would be dealt under the supervision of the university. “The employees who will be appointed under Open Testing Service (OTS) are considered contract employees of the university,” the letter states. The Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) directly oversees the PIMS. However, now the Establishment Division has clarified that the institute must function with SZABMU. “Pakistan institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) has been converted into Shaheed Zulifqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) vide Act No XV of 2013, dated 21-03-2013. It provided that the university shall be an autonomous body,” reads the notification. It adds that the procedure of the appointments would also be similar as in the autonomous government or semi-government departments. Established in 1985, PIMS was an autonomous body. Initially it was named as Islamabad Hospital Complex (IHC). However, later it was named PIMS. In 2013, Parliament of Pakistan passed an Act, through which SZABMU was created. Currently, the university runs a college of nursing, a school of nursing and a college of medical technology with over 2,000 employees. Since 2013, there has been confusion about the status of PIMS employees and their future. They have also held several protests over the issue. They have demanded the separation of PIMS from the university. However, after each such demonstration or strike, the hospital administration refused to accept their demands, claiming it was the mandate of parliament to amend the act. However, the employees were assured by the administration that their employments status would remain intact. Requesting anonymity, a PIMS official said that CADD wanted to interfere in the administrative matters of the hospital. “Some high-ranking officials of the ministry are not willing to grant complete autonomy to PIMS as envisioned in the 2013 act,” he said. “Even CADD Minister Tariq Fazal still has an office in the hospital. The ministry still wants to dominate the affairs,” he said. When contacted, the SZABMU vice chancellor said that the university had been declared an autonomous entity under the act. “The academic activities in the university and services provision by PIMS to the people are our most fundamental responsibilities,” he said. When asked about the letter sent by the Establishment Division, he expressed ignorance, saying: “The letter might be addressing to CADD.” When contacted, CADD Secretary Nargis Ghuloo said that both institutions were autonomous. “Their administrative control is under CADD as they are attached entities like other government departments under the ministry,” she said. To a question, Ghuloo claimed that the employees of PIMS and SZABMU were civil servants and they had job protection like other such employees. Published in Daily Times, June 25th, 2017.