Islamabad: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works unanimously decided to request the Prime Minister to reconsider the decision to close the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD). The committee expressed concern regarding the potential impact on public service infrastructure projects and late submission of briefing materials.

According to a statement by National Assembly of Pakistan, the Standing Committee met under the chairmanship of Moulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri, MNA, at the Ministry of Housing and Works. The committee was briefed on the budgetary proposals for the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) 2024-25. The Ministry of Housing and Works manages 162 PSDP projects worth Rs. 100.706 billion, having spent Rs. 48.463 billion through Pak PWD by June 2024.

The closure of Pak PWD resulted in the transfer of these projects to provincial departments, CDA, and PIDCL. However, the transfer of funds to these agencies has been delayed due to the non-opening of assignment accounts by CDA and PIDCL.

The Standing Committee expressed serious concerns over the closure, emphasizing the potential adverse effects on employees and infrastructure projects. The committee unanimously agreed to request a review of the closure decision and recommended prioritizing the completion of ongoing development projects under both PSDP and SAP schemes.

Additionally, the DG of FGEHA updated the committee on the allotment of plots to journalists, stating that allotments in Sectors F-14/15 are expected to be completed within two weeks. The allotments are based on recommendations from the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.

The meeting was attended by several honorable members and senior officers from the Ministry of Housing and Works, along with the Minister for Housing and Works, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada.