[1] Initially established as Pakistan Department of Research in 1951, PCSIR was reformulated in its current form in 1953.

[1] The organisation was founded under the Societies Act to promote the cause of Science and Technology in the country.

The organisation remained under the control of Pakistan's Ministry of Science and Technology until given autonomy in 1984.

There are eleven laboratories and units and five HRD[clarification needed] centres established throughout the country, headed by director generals or directors who directly report to the chairman.

There are 681 scientists, engineers, and technologists working in different laboratories, of whom eighty have Ph.D. degrees and others have M.Sc./MS/M.Phil./B.E.