A National Assembly panel on Thursday expressed serious concerns over alleged large-scale thefts at the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), summoning key officials. The meeting of the National Assembly’s standing committee on industry and production, chaired by Syed Hafeezuddin, received a report from the subcommittee on PSM, presented by committee member Naz Baloch. She painted a worrying picture of the situation of this once flagship industrial unit.
"We went to Steel Mills Hospital and it was like a movie scene," Naz Baloch told the committee. "Everything was arranged for one day, and then everything disappeared." She claimed that large-scale thefts were currently taking place at the steel mills and revealed that six months ago the entity was presented to Russia for possible sale.
"Six months ago, Steel Mills was presented for sale to Russia, and now, six months later, there is nothing left," » she said. USC payments The committee also expressed anger over the non-payment of dues by laid-off Utility Stores Corporation (USC) employees.
"What happened was wrong. You close an active entity," Syed Naveed Qamar said in the meeting. He added, "You said we would pay them. From that day until today, they have not received their payments. Why this indifference?"
The Secretary of Industry and Production responded that the workers’ union had taken legal action against the government, demanding an increase in compensation.
"They wanted the compensation to be increased. The ABC said this package was not acceptable," he explained, adding that payments had now started. The committee directed that all obvious cases of pending payments to utility shop employees should be cleared before Eid. "For those whose cases are clear, ensure payment before Eid," » ordered Qamar. In an emotional appeal, he added: "You will celebrate Eid with your children… don’t you care about theirs?"
