ISLAMABAD: Amidst demands for an election date, the caretaker federal cabinet continues to swell, with renowned agriculture scientist and educationist Kausar Abdullah Malik the latest addition to the interim setup that is enjoying extraordinary powers following an amendment to the law.

President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday appointed Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik as a federal minister in the caretaker cabinet.

President Alvi made the appointment on the advice of the caretaker prime minister under Article 224 (1a) of the Constitution. With the fresh addition, the total number of federal ministers has risen to 17. Besides the ministers, there are three advisers and some special assistants to the prime minister.

Malik is the eldest son of noted Urdu author and journalist Abdullah Malik. He holds a PhD in microbiology from Aston University, United Kingdom.

Prof Malik started his research career from the Nuclear Institute for Agriculture and Biology (NIAB), Faisalabad (1971-1992) Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission. He is the founder director general of the National Institute for Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (NIBGE) at Faisalabad where he had been involved from the conceptual stage to its operation and developed all research programmes and scientific manpower.

In view of his research and management experience, Dr Malik was appointed chairman of the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) which is the apex body responsible for coordinating research and development activities related to agriculture.

During 2001-2006, Dr Malik served as Member (Biosciences & Administration) of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission and established medical institutions in different places. Subsequently he was invited to join Planning Commission of Pakistan as its member looking after food and agriculture economic development from 2006-2008. During this period, Dr Malik also acted as secretary of the National Commission on Biotechnology (2002-2008)

He is a recipient of Hilal-i-Imtiaz, Sitara-i-Imtiaz and Tamgha-i-Imtiaz. In 1997 he was also awarded ISESCO Prize in Biology. Dr Malik is a fellow of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and is one of the five leading scientists and technologists appointed by the government to the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology. Malik played an influential role in the establishment of the country’s well-known research institution - National Institute for Biotechnology & Genetic Engineering (NIBGE), Faisalabad.

Published in Dawn, September 10th, 2023