Islamabad, July 11, 2023 (PPI-OT): Meeting of Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production was held at Parliament House on Tuesday with Senator Khalida Ateeb in Chair. The Senate Committee was briefed on the retrenchment drive initiated in Pakistan Steel Mills for its rehabilitation. Officials informed that around 5,282 employees were offered retrenchment with payment of their outstanding dues plus an additional pay, however 4,434 employees agreed to the proposal and 1,591 employees have turned down the offer and some 42 employees have moved to the Court for adjudication. A budget worth Rs.19.5 Billion was allocated for the retrenchment process and approximately Rs.12.5 Billion has been released to Pakistan Steel Mills, officials added. Senator Khalida Ateeb questioned as to whether the new appointments after the retrenchment have been made or not. To which, officials failed to respond. She directed the Pakistan Steel Mills Officials to provide complete details of employees existed before the retrenchment in the next meeting.

Furthermore, Senator Khalida Ateeb highlighted the alleged copper theft worth around 10 Billion rupees from Pakistan Steel Mills. Officials stated that the FIA is investigating the matter and the final report will be submitted before the committee once the investigation completed. The Committee taken up the matter of appointment of Mr. Bashir Ahmad S/O Haji Yar Muhammad in PITAC. Officials apprised that the individual was appointed as ‘Apprentice Engineer’ for the contract of one year which was further extended for six months and the term ‘Permanent Employment’ was not mentioned in initial contract. However, the appointee maintained that few of his fellow employees, who allegedly have fake degrees, were offered permanent employment after the initial contract of one year. He added that PITAC officials have refused to offer employment despite of Special Committee on Affected Employees recommendation. The Chairman Committee directed the ‘appointee’ to submit all the relevant details before the committee in the next meeting.

While discussing the total numbers of franchised stores and sales points in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Officials apprised that KPK is divided into two zones namely as Abbottabad and Peshawar and around 272 regular stores, 68 Franchise Stores,200 Atta Sale Points and 20 Atta Mobile stores are located in Abbottabad and 614 Regular Stores,204 Franchise Stores,288 Atta Sale Points and 20 Mobile stores are located in Peshawar. Moreover, as far as the details of employees appointed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in the last five years is concerned. USC officials maintained that no new appointment on contract and regular basis has been made in last five years, however, 779 daily wages staff was engaged for 89 days for the operation of Sasta Atta Scheme in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The meeting was attended by Senator Fida Muhammad, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir, Senator Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Senator Hidayatullah, Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada and senior officers of ministry of industries and Production, PITAC and Utility Store Corporation were also in attendance.

For more information, contact:

Senate of Pakistan

H.No.7, Cat-II, G-8/2, Islamabad, Pakistan

Tel: +92-51-9204564534

Fax: +92-51-9205703

E-mail: senate@comsats.net.pk

Website: www.senate.gov.pk