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Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Recorder
NA panel disapproves PWD closure sans transition plan
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Monday expressed dissatisfaction over the dissolution of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) without a transition framework, which has caused operational confusion about the development projects. The standing committee recommended formulating clear standard operating procedures (SOPs) and a centralised oversight mechanism to ensure accountability and continuity for development projects. The committee met with Syed Abdul Kadir Gillani in the chair at the Parliament house on Monday. NA panel urges PM to reconsider PWD closure The members reviewed implementation of previous recommendations, examined sub-committee findings, and assessed progress on development initiatives under the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP). A detailed report was presented by the sub-committee led by Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani, MNA, on the status of projects transferred to the provinces in the wake of PWD dissolution. The report, based on four meetings, outlined inter-ministerial coordination efforts and challenges in implementing Sustainable Development Goals Achievement Programme (SAP) schemes, especially where federal funding is executed through provincial bodies. The committee expressed concern over persistent execution issues, including re-tendering delays in Punjab, contractor litigation, and limited capacity within Pakistan Infrastructure Development Company Limited (PIDCL) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Members also noted delays in third-party verifications and pending payments. To address these, the sub-committee was reconstituted with Zulfiqar Bachani, Malik Sohail Khan, and Muhammad Ameer Sultan joining as members under the convenership of Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani. The Ministry of Finance clarified that the PSDP fund disbursements are made based on provincial requisitions, with no discrimination. Funds of the merged districts under the Accelerated Implementation Plan has been released. Members were informed that new national projects will be finalized by 31st May, with several PC-1s already submitted for inclusion in the PSDP. Members emphasised timely consultation on these projects to reflect public priorities. Members were also briefed on the Roche project, funded over five years to provide free cancer medication. The initial phase will be implemented at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), with expansion planned in later stages. Concerns were raised over the lack of clean drinking water in Multan and underfunding of Nishtar Hospital-II. The committee stressed immediate attention to essential health and water services as fundamental rights. The NHA updated the committee on the M6 Motorway (Sukkur–Hydera-bad), a Rs450 billion project divided into five sections. Feasibility for the Hyder-abad–Karachi link is underway. The committee discussed proceeding under a Public-Private Partnership model versus awaiting Asian Development Bank (ADB) support. Progress on partnership proposals, including one with Azerbaijan, remains limited. The committee deferred the Uraan Pakistan project and recommended inclusion of the National Highways Authority (NHA) in the next meeting. Additionally, the committee, unanimously, approved PSDP projects for the Frontier Constabulary for the upcoming fiscal year. The meeting concluded with a call for unified oversight, improved federal-provincial coordination, and equitable resource distribution to ensure timely delivery of national development priorities. Attendees included Maj (retired) Tahir Iqbal, Syed Samiul Hassan Gillani, Naz Baloch, Muhammad Moazzam Ali Khan, Farhan Chishti, Akhtar Bibi, Dawar Khan Kundi, Malik Sohail Khan, Ali Asghar Khan, Iqbal Zehri, and Muhammad Ameer Sultan, alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Planning, Finance Division, NHA, and Ministry of Interior. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
NA panel urges PM to reconsider PWD closure
ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Housing and Works has unanimously urged Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif to reconsider closure of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD). Committee decided that a formal letter would be sent from the Secretariat of the Chairman, Standing Committee on Housing and Works of the National Assembly, to the Office of the Prime Minister, requesting reconsideration of the decision to shut down the Pak-PWD, due to its potential negative implications for public service delivery and the employment of thousands of workers. The Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Housing and Works met in Parliament House on Friday, under the Chairmanship of Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri. 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. During the meeting, the Committee discussed several important matters related to housing, infrastructure, and employment. It 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 Aseefa Bhutto Zardari and other MNAs. Housing 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 consideration of the bill until detailed reasons and justifications are provided regarding the proposed closure of the Pakistan Public Works Department (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 and 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 Seema Mohiuddin Jamili, Muhammad Shabir Ali Qureshi, and Mir Amir Ali Khan Magsi, as its members. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
