‘PWD played important role in development work’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan PWD, which has been ordered to be closed down by the prime minister, has a historical background.

According to the records of Ministry of Housing and Construction, this institution was established by Lord Dalhousie in 1854 during the British era before the formation of Pakistan.

It was renamed Pak PWD in 1947. After the establishment of Pakistan, it was entrusted with the task of resettling the refugees and constructing roads and buildings of the new state.

When it was decided to build the federal capital of Islamabad, the two divisions of PWD were transferred from Karachi to Islamabad, which constructed Sectors G-5 and G-6 and started the construction of Federal Secretariat Buildings.

The PWD provides technical assistance to NAB and FIA in enquiries and performs verification of reserves of oil marketing companies. It currently performs the duty of maintenance of the Supreme Court, High Courts, Election Commission of Pakistan and Prime Minister’s House.

This institution was established under the Rules of Business, 1973. The sanctioned posts of PWD employees is 7,845 and currently 6,610 employees are working in the institution and 2,443 of them are regular employees.

Some 269 lodges and rest houses have caretakers while 3,898 PWD employees do maintenance work. There are 450 engineers of Grade 17 and above. Some 500 sub engineers are with the department.

Work is ongoing on 202 projects of the Ministry of Housing and Construction and 60 percent work has been completed by PWD. Also, work is ongoing on 95 projects of other ministries and 65 percent work has been completed. The PWD has assets worth billions of rupees across the country including 17,694 offices and residential buildings or flats. The land of PWD is spread over 17,694 kanals.