Who is Dr. Zia Batool? PSQCA Finally Appoints Director General After 3-Year Wait

The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) has finally appointed a new Director General after a three-year vacancy, with Dr. Zia Batool taking charge of the key post. Her appointment was confirmed through an official notification issued by the Ministry of Science and Technology, following formal approval from the federal cabinet.

The position, which remained unfilled despite multiple recruitment attempts, has now been awarded on a three-year contractual basis under the MP-I scale, with the possibility of annual extensions depending on performance reviews.

The selection process, which had stalled for years, saw renewed momentum after Federal Minister Khalid Hussain Magsi directed formal interviews. Dr. Batool was chosen from a final panel of three candidates, including Akhtar Bagio and Dr. Farooq, after evaluation by the Prime Minister’s Office.

The notification, signed by Deputy Scientific Adviser Shakeel Arshad, officially appoints Dr. Batool to lead the Karachi-based authority, which is tasked with enforcing national quality standards across all sectors.

This appointment ends a prolonged leadership vacuum at PSQCA, a vital regulatory body under the administrative control of the Ministry of Science and Technology. The authority plays a central role in consumer protection, product certification, and standardization in Pakistan.

Over the past three years, four separate efforts to hire a permanent Director General were unsuccessful. Dr. Batool’s appointment is seen as a crucial step toward restoring operational efficiency and trust in the regulatory system.