ISLAMABAD:
A major controversy has erupted at the Pakistan Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (PCSIR) following allegations of report tampering and abuse of power involving the PCSIR chairman and director general, Lahore. In response, Minister of Science and Technology Dr Khaliq Hussain Magsi has ordered an inquiry and formed a committee to investigate the matter.
According to an official complaint submitted by MS Credible Business Hub Pvt Limited to the minister, a sample of betel nut referred by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) was initially declared fit for human consumption on July 16, 2025 (Ref: GET04-11/07) by PCSIR Lahore. However, a contradictory report was issued just a day later, on July 17, 2025, declaring the same sample unfit for consumption, raising serious concerns about manipulation and procedural violations.
The CEO of MS Credible Business Hub Pvt Limited has accused Dr Hussain Abidi and Dr Quratul Ain of orchestrating the alteration of the test results for ulterior motives. He claimed that the manipulation was deliberate, intended to damage the business interests of firms not aligned with the Chairman.
In response to these serious allegations, the Federal Minister for Science and Technology has ordered an official inquiry, appointing Joint Secretary Bilal Butt as the head of the investigation committee. The probe will aim to determine the cause of the conflicting lab reports and assign responsibility.
Insiders suggested that this may be just one of several irregularities under Dr Abidi’s tenure, with multiple allegations already circulating within the ministry. The outcome of the inquiry could have far-reaching consequences for PCSIR’s reputation and for the business community that depends on its reports for regulatory clearance and trade.
This incident underscores the urgent need for transparency and accountability in public testing labs, especially when their reports have direct commercial and health-related implications.
Chairman PCSIR Dr Hussain Abdi has not responded to the question and allegations by the company.
