The Ministry of Science and Technology has received a serious complaint against the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) Lahore, alleging manipulation of test reports. A private company claimed that PCSIR altered the results of chickpea tests, raising questions about the lab’s credibility.
According to the complaint, PCSIR issued a positive test report for chickpeas on July 16. However, on July 17, the same laboratory reportedly changed the report to negative without explanation. This sudden change has caused distrust and concerns over possible misconduct in the testing process.
In reaction, the Ministry formed a three-member fact-finding committee, including the Joint Secretary, Deputy Scientific Advisor, and a Section Officer, to thoroughly investigate the matter. The committee is required to submit its report within 15 days to the Federal Minister for Science and Technology.
The official order also stated that the PCSIR Chairman is accused of involvement in the alleged tampering. Meanwhile, PCSIR’s Lahore testing labs have been temporarily closed to prevent any further questionable activity until the investigation concludes.
This case highlights growing concerns about transparency and accountability in scientific institutions in Pakistan. The Ministry has promised strict action based on the committee’s findings to restore public trust in the country’s research and testing agencies.