Senate Body Questions PSM Officials Over Rs. 10 Billion Theft Case

A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production was held under the chairmanship of Senator Khalida Ateeb in Islamabad today, where members discussed progress on the maintenance of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) and the issue of theft of the state-owned company’s assets allegedly worth billions of rupees.

Senator Fida Muhammad said a gas valve worth millions of rupees was stolen from PSM. Chairperson Khalida Ateeb brought it to the committee’s attention that Pakistan Steel Mills dismissed an officer involved in the theft of goods worth Rs. 10 billion.

She opined that the individual be reinstated and asked where he took the goods.

PSM officials briefed the committee that the case is with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). They said Engineer Abdur Rehman Warraich was responsible for the stolen equipment but said that it was worth only Rs. 4.7 million. After opening an inquiry on the matter, the steel mills authorities found him guilty on charges of theft and misconduct. The case is being investigated by FIA, the officials added.

The committee was also briefed on the status of the payment of pending dues to PSM employees. Additional Secretary Industries said outstanding dues to the tune of Rs. 12 billion have been paid in full to 4,734 out of a total of 5,282 PSM employees, while payments amounting to Rs. 1.66 billion to 1,591 individuals are still pending.

Some 42 employees have moved to the Court for adjudication.

The secretary said the federal government had approved Rs. 19.6 billion for the distribution of payments while Rs. 14 billion had been released for immediate disbursal.

The members while reviewing the details sought more details in lieu of the above to be shared with the committee on an urgent basis.

The Committee took up the matter of the appointment of Bashir Ahmad S/O Haji Yar Muhammad in PITAC. Officials apprised that the individual was appointed as an ‘Apprentice Engineer’ for a contract of one year which was further extended for six months and the term ‘Permanent Employment’ was not mentioned in the 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 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 number of franchised stores and sales points in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Officials apprised that KPK is divided into two zones namely 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 a contract and regular basis has been made in the last five years, however, 779 daily wages staff was engaged for 89 days for the operation of the 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 the Ministry of Industries and Production, PITAC and Utility Store Corporation were also in attendance.