Halal Authority leadership dispute: Senate demands answers over temporary DG arrangement  

A Senate committee has raised questions about the continued service of the Director General of the Pakistan Halal Authority beyond the

Islamabad: A Senate committee has raised questions about the continued service of the Director General of the Pakistan Halal Authority beyond the completion of his contractual tenure. Officials clarified that the officer is only working on a temporary look after charge while the process for a permanent appointment through open advertisement is underway. The committee directed the ministry to provide a detailed written explanation and review the appointment procedure.

The issue was discussed during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology, chaired by Senator Kamil Ali Agha, where lawmakers reviewed governance, appointments, and regulatory matters under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro questioned how the Director General of the Pakistan Halal Authority could continue in the position after his contractual period ended. He observed that a permanent appointment to such a key position cannot be made without approval from the Cabinet Division and called for clarity on the legal status of the current arrangement.

Officials informed the committee that the previous Director General was initially appointed for a three year tenure with approval from the Prime Minister and the federal government. After receiving an extension, the officer completed the approved tenure.

However, officials clarified that the current arrangement is not a permanent appointment. They stated that the officer is only performing duties on a look after charge basis to manage daily operations while the government completes the process of appointing a regular Director General through an open advertisement.

The committee questioned whether assigning such an important position on a temporary basis was the appropriate approach. Chairman Senator Kamil Ali Agha observed that normally a look after charge should be given to the next senior officer within the same organization.

Officials explained that there was a gap in the internal grading structure, which created difficulty in assigning the responsibility to another officer from within the department.

The officer currently holding the charge informed the committee that the position was not based on a fixed tenure and alleged that incorrect information had been provided to the Cabinet regarding the grounds for ending his services. The committee was informed that the matter is already being considered by the court.

Taking notice of the situation, the chairman directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to submit detailed written comments explaining the legal and administrative position of the appointment. He also emphasized that temporary arrangements should not become a permanent practice.

The committee further observed that the practice of assigning look after charges has become common in several organizations under the Ministry of Science and Technology and stressed the need for transparent appointment procedures.

Members emphasized that institutions responsible for regulating Pakistan’s halal certification system require stable leadership and clear governance structures to maintain public confidence and international credibility.