NA body wants PM to revisit Pak-PWD closure

ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Housing and Works will request the Prime Minister to reconsider the closure of Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak-PWD) due to its potential negative impact on public service delivery and thousands of jobs.

To this effect, a formal letter would be sent from the Secretariat of the Chairman of the Standing Committee on Housing and Works to the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Standing Committee met with its Chairman Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri in the chair, here at the Parliament House on Friday. The committee took serious notice of the ministry’s lack of seriousness and its failure to provide the required briefing to the committee on time.

The committee discussed several important matters related to housing, infrastructure, and employment. It also discussed Calling Attention Notice No. 71, which focused on the closure of Pak-PWD and its implications, particularly the unemployment of nearly 25,000 individuals. The notice was moved by Ms. Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and other Members of the National Assembly (MNAs).

The committee expressed concern over the negative impact on the workforce, emphasising the need for immediate steps to address the issue. The Pakistan Infrastructure Development and Assets Management Authority Bill, 2024 (Government Bill) also came under discussion.

The committee decided to defer the consideration of the bill until detailed reasons and justifications are provided regarding the proposed closure of the Pak-PWD, along with a clear explanation of the status and future of Pak-PWD employees.

The committee expressed grave concern over the non-submission of the compliance report and the presentation of inconclusive information. It emphasised the need for improved coordination and timely communication from the ministry in future proceedings. It directed that complete, accurate, and verified data must be submitted in upcoming meetings to ensure transparency, uphold accountability, and enable effective parliamentary oversight.

The committee constituted a sub-committee under the convenorship of Anjum Aqeel Khan, MNA, to examine and address issues related to the allotment of plots to journalists, as well as pending payments against land acquisition, built-up property, and other matters pertaining to housing projects undertaken by the FGEHA.

The sub-committee includes Ms. Seema Mohi-ud-Din Jamili, Muhammad Shabir Ali Qureshi, and Mir Amir Ali Khan Magsi, as its members. The meeting was attended by Honourable Members Anjum Aqeel Khan, Ms. Seema Mohi-ud-Din Jamili, Dr. Darshan, Amir Ali Khan Magsi, Haji Rasool Bux Chandio, Mr. Hassaan Sabir (online via zoom), Ms. Samina Khalid Ghurki (online via zoom), Mehboob Shah, Muhammad Shabir Ali Qureshi (online via zoom), Raja Pervez Ashraf (Mover on the Agenda item No. 4), and senior officers including Secretary from the Ministry of Housing and Works and its attached departments.