Operations of NSLP

Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF) is responsible for managing the NSLP Endowment Fund. The funding process primarily involves soliciting and receiving proposals, processing and approving them, as well as monitoring, evaluating, and coordinating projects supported fully or partially under the programme. PSF is dedicated to ensuring the optimal use of NSLP resources to promote agricultural research and development.

Research and development grant proposals are accepted from all public and private organizations that possess the necessary R&D capacity and financial accountability. Collaborative project proposals involving both Pakistani and U.S. scientists are particularly encouraged.

MANAGEMENT OF THE ENDOWMENT FUND

• Board of Governors:

  The overall direction, administration, and management of the Fund are entrusted to the Board of Governors (BoG), as authorized by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC). The BoG formulates policies for the Fund’s operation, approves rules and regulations, endorses the annual budget, and provides strategic guidelines for its functioning. Additionally, the BoG approves all projects with a cost exceeding Rs. 8.00 million.

• Fund Management Committee:

  The Fund Management Committee (FMC) oversees the management of the Endowment Fund, including its income and expenditures, in accordance with the rules and regulations approved by the Board of Governors. Its responsibilities also include maintaining financial records and arranging the annual audit. The FMC meets at least twice a year and, based on the recommendations of the Technical Committee, approves projects costing up to Rs. 8.00 million. Projects exceeding this amount are forwarded to the BoG for approval.

• Chief Executive for the NSLP Endowment Fund.

  The Chairman of the Pakistan Science Foundation serves as the Chief Executive of the Fund as well as the Chairman of the Fund Management Committee.

MONITORING AND EVALUATION

The Foundation places strong emphasis on the monitoring and evaluation of funded research projects and has established a well-structured process for this purpose. Once project funding begins, the Principal Investigator (P.I.) is required to submit biannual technical and fiscal reports. Subsequent installments are released only upon receipt of these semi-annual reports.

Annual technical reports are reviewed by subject experts and presented to the PSF Technical Committee for assessment. Similarly, annual fiscal reports are examined before the release of the next installment. In addition, project progress is periodically monitored through site visits conducted by the PSF team and relevant subject experts.

COMPLETION OF PROJECTS

A project is regarded as “complete” once both its technical and administrative requirements have been fulfilled. Technical completion is achieved when the final technical report is submitted, evaluated by the subject expert as satisfactory, and subsequently endorsed by the relevant PSF Technical Committee. Administrative completion occurs after the final fiscal report is received and thoroughly reviewed.