Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on National Food Security and Research convened to scrutinize the recruitment procedures at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC), emphasizing the need for transparency and equitable provincial representation. The session, held at Parliament House, saw participation from Senators Rahat Jamali, Shahadat Awan, and Poonjo Bheel.

According to Senate of Pakistan, discussions centered around the recruitment of 230 vacant positions at PARC, with the process having been publicized through national newspapers and the PARC website. The recruitment exam was managed by Candidates Testing Services, an independent entity. Of the 230 positions, appointment letters have been dispatched to 125 candidates, leaving 105 cases pending.

Senator Poonjo Bheel raised concerns that the recruitment process might have breached Article 38(g) of the Constitution, suggesting an imbalance in provincial representation. He noted that selections appeared to favor candidates from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, potentially sidelining those from Sindh and Balochistan. PARC representatives countered these claims, stating that recent appointments included candidates from Sindh based on merit and pledged to conduct interviews for Sindh and Balochistan candidates soon.

PARC officials explained their phased, province-specific approach to conducting written tests, but the Committee recommended simultaneous publication of results across all provinces to uphold transparency. Allegations of a coordinated campaign using artificial intelligence to undermine the recruitment outcomes were also addressed, with the Committee advising disciplinary actions for any involved personnel.

The Chairman directed PARC to present a detailed account of the authority responsible for appointments and a comprehensive list of pending candidates in the next meeting.