In a significant development aligned with the federal government’s broader rightsizing initiative, the Ministry of Science and Technology has abolished 201 positions across two of its key departments — the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and the National Metrology Institute of Pakistan (NMIP). This move comes as part of a government-wide strategy to reduce staffing redundancies and improve operational efficiency within public sector institutions.
According to formal notifications issued by the Ministry, 174 posts have been eliminated at PSQCA, which plays a central role in maintaining national standards and regulatory quality control. Out of these, 61 positions have been terminated with immediate effect, while 113 have been categorized as “dying cadre” — meaning they will be phased out naturally upon the retirement or passing of existing employees.
The abolished posts at PSQCA include a wide range of roles, spanning high-ranking positions like Director (Grade-19) to technical and clerical staff at Grade-1. Specifically, the restructuring affects 4 Grade-19 positions, 31 Grade-18, 36 Grade-17, and 10 Grade-14 positions, among others. This broad spectrum of grades affected suggests a deep organizational shake-up aimed at cutting through hierarchical inefficiencies.
Similarly, the National Metrology Institute of Pakistan (NMIP) has also seen 27 positions scrapped as part of the Ministry’s plan. Of these, 11 roles have been terminated immediately, while 16 have been classified under the dying cadre category. The abolished roles at NMIP include three Grade-18 and five Grade-17 positions, as well as several posts in the Grade-5 to Grade-15 range. NMIP serves a critical function in ensuring the country’s measurement standards are in alignment with international practices, and the changes here reflect a focused effort to streamline its internal structure.
The Ministry’s action follows a directive from the federal cabinet, which had instructed all ministries and divisions to eliminate 60 percent of their vacant posts in a bid to rationalize government spending and enhance the efficiency of public services. By targeting non-essential and unoccupied posts — and gradually phasing out others through the dying cadre approach — the Ministry of Science and Technology has taken a clear step toward compliance with this national mandate.
While the move is likely to generate debate, particularly among public service unions and employment advocates, it represents a shift towards a leaner and more accountable bureaucracy. Ministries across the board are under increasing pressure to adapt to digital governance models and reduce excessive manpower that contributes little to productivity or service delivery. The Ministry’s decision also sets a precedent for other departments to follow suit in identifying and addressing structural inefficiencies.
The broader goal of the rightsizing plan is to modernize governance, reduce fiscal waste, and reallocate resources more effectively — particularly in sectors where digital tools and automation can replace outdated and manual workflows. For the science and technology sector, which often sits at the intersection of innovation and regulation, these steps may help pave the way for a more agile and responsive institutional framework in the years to come.
