SDA employees to lose jobs as KP govt set to establish EZDC

PESHAWAR: The employees of the Sarhad Development Authority (SDA) could lose their jobs as the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has yet to devise any policy about their future following the dissolution of the authority this month.
The summary seeking the establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Economic Zones Development Company (EZDC) and subsequent dissolution of the SDA has already been sent to the chief minister for approval.
The provincial government has decided to establish the EZDC on the lines of
Punjab Industrial Estates Development and Management Company that successfully launched the Sundar Industrial Estate, Lahore project.
Previously, the provincial government had decided that formal notification to establish the company would be issued by March 31. However, it could not do so as the summary for the purpose is yet to be approved.
However, the Industries Department has registered the EZDC in the name of the government members under section 42 of the Companies Ordinance 1984 as public company managed by a Board of Directors (BoD) having representation from the private and public sectors at the ratio of 75 and 25 percent, respectively.
According to the project concept paper of the company, the BoD of the EZDC would have 15 members, including 10 members along with its chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) from the private sector and five ex-officio members from Industries, Finance, Environment, Labour and Planning and Development (P&D) departments.
The company at the later stage will also be registered with the Security Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP).
The Industrial Estate Hattar, Special Economic Zone along the M-I, Rashaki,
Nowshera, Industrial Estate Ghazi, Haripur, Industrial Estate Jalozai, Industrial Estate, Dera Ismail Khan, Export Processing Zone (EPZ) Risalpur, Industrial Estate Nowshera, EPZ at the border of Kohat and Karak district, Industrial Estate Gadoon Amazai, Mineral Based
Industrial Estate Chitral and the proposed Industrial Estate Buner will be
handed over to the EZDC for development and management.
On the establishment of the EZDC, the SDA will immediately be dissolved and a Disinvestment Cell will be set up in the Industries Department with a skeleton staff headed by secretary Industries and representatives from the Finance and Law departments, a chartered accountant and a corporate lawyer to clear the debts, credits and liabilities of the SDA.
It will also prepare a policy and criteria for retrenching the existing employees of the SDA and provide framework for its complete disinvestment.The Disinvestment Cell will also run the affairs of the Industrial Estate Jamrud Road, Peshawar, old Gadoon Amazai Industrial Estate and old Hattar Industrial Estate.
The EZDC concept paper says that all vacant posts will be abolished and new appointments and promotions will be immediately stopped.The new arrangements require no legislation. Therefore; the bill seeking amendments to the SDA and SIDB (Small Industrial Development Board) Act tabled in the provincial assembly has been withdrawn.
The provincial government’s decision will put the future of around 400 employees at stake in general and that of the 110 staffers posted at the SDA headquarters in particular. One of the employees told The News they were facing uncertainty as the government has not yet come up with any clear policy regarding their future.
He said when the Mines and Mineral Wing of the SDA was dissolved its employees were also sacked. “On the privatisation of Khazana Sugar Mills the employees were forced to accept a shabby golden handshake,” he reminded.
Secretary Industries Sajjid Khan Jadoon admitted that some of the employees at the headquarters might be affected. However, he said interests of the employees would be taken care of and the Disinvestment Cell will devise a policy for these employees.
He said, “We are well aware of the employees’ problems and will definitely look into these. Nothing is final at this stage and the Disinvestment Cell and later the BoD of the EZDC will also look into the matter.”