A National Assembly panel on Thursday expressed serious concern over the alleged large-scale theft at Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), summoning key officials. The National Assembly Standing Committee on Industries and Production meeting, chaired by Syed Hafeezuddin, received a sub-committee report on PSM, presented by committee member Naz Baloch. She painted a worrying picture of the state of the once flagship industrial unit.
"We went to Steel Mills Hospital and it looked like a scene from a movie." Naz Baloch told the committee. "Everything was arranged for one day, and then everything disappeared." He alleged that large-scale thefts were currently taking place at Steel Mills and revealed that six months ago, the entity had been presented to Russia for a possible sale.
"Six months ago Steel Mills in Russia were put up for sale and now, six months later, there is nothing left there." she stated. USC Payments The committee also expressed anger over the non-payment of dues to the laid-off employees of Utility Stores Corporation (USC).
"What happened was wrong. You close an operating entity," Syed Naveed Qamar said during the meeting. He added, "You said we will pay them. From that day until today they have not received their payments. Why this indifference?"
The Ministry of Industries and Production responded that the workers’ union had filed litigation against the government, seeking an increase in compensation.
"They wanted the compensation package to be increased. The CBA said that this package is not acceptable," he explained, adding that payments had already begun. The committee directed that all clear cases of outstanding payments to utility store employees be resolved before Eid. "For those whose cases are clear, please guarantee payment before Eid," Qamar instructed. In an emotional appeal, he added: "You will celebrate Eid with your children… don’t you care about theirs?"
