ISLAMABAD: A Senate sub-committee has called for the immediate filling of approximately 275,000 vacant federal positions and requested detailed information on the profits of oil and gas companies. The meeting, held at Old PIPS Hall, Parliament Lodges, was chaired by Senator Zamir Hussain Ghumro, focusing on the implementation of constitutional provisions related to employment and provincial representation in public entities.

According to Senate of Pakistan, the committee expressed concern over the large number of unfilled federal government positions, despite available budgetary allocations. It highlighted a significant shortfall in representation from the provinces of Sindh and Balochistan. The Establishment Division has been tasked with addressing these disparities and submitting relevant documents and timelines within a week.

The committee also directed the Establishment Division to provide a timeline for filling vacancies from grades BS 1 to 16 and to submit recruitment schedules for higher grades. Additionally, the committee sought comprehensive reports on the profits of oil and gas companies over the past sixteen years, emphasizing the importance of transparency in profit distribution.

The Ministry of Petroleum informed the committee of ongoing consultations with provincial governments regarding board representation and ownership shares, as mandated by the Constitution. The committee stressed the need for provincial governments to nominate their representatives, reinforcing the constitutional requirement for provincial participation in natural resource management.