Federal
Minister for science and technology Rana Tanveer Hussain chaired a meeting
regarding National testing service (NTS) issues here at Islamabad today.
Federal
Secretary MoST Mrs Yasmin Masood and Senior management of NTS was present
in the meeting.
Chief
operating officer, NTS Sherzada Khan briefed the Minister regarding prevailing
issues and corrective measures the management has taken to streamline the
company's affairs.
The Minister
was informed that NTS has paid maximum of it's due liabilities/Taxes and rest
of the amount will be paid within next few days After reconciliation of the
actual outstanding amount with the FBR authorities. The chair was informed that
NTS has established it's own Internal Audit and procurement departments to
ensure implementation of PEPRA rules. NTS has also established it's own IT wing
and all receipts of project Wise expenditures are being maintained
appropriately. The company has also acquired it's own printing facility to
avert the apprehension of leakage of question papers.
NTS
authorities apprised the Minister that the company had been working as a
recruitment agency of many well reputed public sector organizations including
NAB, since last many years. Few negative elements has started a smear campaign
in the media to defame the company, out of sheer jealousy.
The Minister
directed the MoST to constitute a committee to analyze the issues of NTS as per
rules. The committee will also submit the recommendations to make this organization
more effective and efficient. It is also pertinent to mention that the NTS was
launched as a project of COMSATS, a subsidiary of ministry of science and
technology, during the Musharraf era as non-profit organization registered with
the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan and rector COMSATs heads it's
Board of Directors.
