Plastic from syringes, IV sets, catheter kits and bags, and such things is being melted to make straws for drinking cold drinks, said Science and Technology Ministry Secretary Naseem Nawaz, urging the government to set up a mechanism to check the practice.Besides drinking straws, hospital waste ends up recycled as diapers, toys, disposal cups and many other daily use plastic items, Naseem said at the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee for Science and Technology held on Friday with Senator Mushtaq Ahmed in the chair.Nasem said he has seen a video of people recycling hospital waste into straws, diapers, and toys.When asked, officials of his ministry said bacteria and viruses are killed when plastic is heated to boiling point in the furnace for melting and remolding.At this Secretary Naseem said, bacteria may die but the chemicals remain.The committee has demanded a complete report on the disposal of hospital waste and its recycling.While giving a compliance report on the Committee’s directions, the meeting was surprised to know that no facility exists in the country at present to see if children's toys or drinking straws are being made from hospital waste. Secretary said that the responsibility lies with the hospitals that let the waste go out of the premises and do not have incinerators in the hospital.The committee decided to hold a joint meeting with the health committee on the matter so that the matter can be discussed at length and the root cause can be identified by calling all departments that come under both ministries.Science and Technology Minister Fawad Chaudhry took exception to the performance of Ignite, a department of Science and Technology division.Ignite focuses on fourth industrial wave tech and on ecosystem development initiatives to fulfill its mission of creating a knowledge economy in Pakistan. Its national network of incubators nurtures startups, while its seed fund provides grants to innovative, deep tech projects and start-ups.Chaudhry said work is going on at incubation centres, but Ignite is doing nothing but wasting money. He said that there was lack of coordination between research and technology bodies. “I have suggested to PM Imran to form an authority to control the institutions,” the science and technology minister said.Senate Standing Committee on Science and Technology in its meeting on Friday while discussing reports of corruption cases in PCSIR being investigated by National Accountability Bureau (NAB) the Committee was told that there are no corruption cases on PCSIR, however, the ministry itself has approached NAB to get some of the precious PCSIR land in Lahore back in its possession. It was told that two pieces of land amounting to approximately 40 million dollars were illegally occupied by some mafia and was being misused in activities not distantly related to the institution’s mandate. The land covers an area of 17 and 21 kanals at two separate locations. The Committee was told that the same land after possession will be used for projects in public private partnership for science and technology initiatives.The meeting was held under the Chairmanship of Senator Mushtaq Ahmed here at the Parliament House on Friday and was attended among others by Senators Nuzhat Sadiq, Gianchand, Syed Sabir Shah, Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, Secretary Science and Technology and officials.Regarding issues of appointments and promotions in PSQCA, Chairman Committee observed that matters relating to PSQCA have been on agenda of the committee for long and the issues are not solving. The issues of delay in genuine promotions and some irregular appointments were also discussed. Three specific cases whereby two were related to delays in promotions and service matters while the third was about irregular appointment were discussed. The Secretary told the meeting that the genuine case of promotion of media advisor will be done with in next Departmental Promotional Committee.The Committee discussed in detail the sub-committee report on the matter. The committee was of the view that people who have had inquiries going on against them should be suspended until the inquiry comes to a conclusion. The minister agreed with the Committee’s view and the committee was told that most of such people have already been suspended and if the Committee finds any remaining people, the ministry will comply with the direction. The Committee sought the list of suspended officials in the next meeting.The committee also gave directions to conduct a survey by taking a sample of 100 sugar mills and sending questionnaires asking about what ways are being used for sugar whitening.Regarding organising seminars and expos the committee observed that such events should have the representation of academia as well as industry and at the same time participation of all the departments of the ministry. The need for calling Pakistani experts working in world leading institutes was also emphasised.The Committee noted that there should be a mechanism to arrange annual conferences by Pakistani missions abroad comprising Pakistani scientists working in different countries.The Committee also sought a briefing on a developmental and non-developmental budget of the ministry and its departments in the next meeting.Published in The Express Tribune, August 24, 2019.