ISLAMABAD Dec 19 (TNS): Asad Umar the PTI Senior Leader and Chairman of NA Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Tuesday sent a letter to chairman National Accountability Bureau (NAB) regarding the irregularities and corruption in Pakistan Steel Mills Karachi demanding thorough investigation.
He said on account of closure of Pakistan Steel Mills, the biggest industrial unit of Pakistan, the national exchequer is suffering a loss of Rs. 1.5 million per month. Due to import of steel pressure on foreign exchange stock is increasing.
He asked the government to explain why the gas supply was suspended to PSM. “Unexplained suspension of gas supply to it; non-issuance of salaries to its employees and non-payment of pensions to the retired workers must also be probed as it is forcing them to commit suicide,” he stressed in his letter.
He said NA Standing Committee on Industries and Production meetings could not go beyond the statement that ‘different options are under consideration’.
In July 2017 the matter was referred to NAB for probe by the said committee.
National Assembly (NA) Standing Committee on Industries & Production had earlier unanimously recommended that the Ministry of Industries & Production must send a reference to the NAB, regarding the irregularities and corruption in Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).
In its opinion, NAB cooperation should be sought through a reference so that various aspects of the issue can be investigated.
He said disconnecting of gas supply to the PSM led to complete shutdown of all production operations of the entity though it was operating in the normal course.
He expressed serious concern over non-payment of salary and pension to thousands of widows and employees of the PSM and recommended that the Ministry of Industries and Production must ensure immediate release of salary and pension to all PSM employees.
“There was potential in the entity to make progress and earn more profit, but the main issue was incompetence and lack of decision making on the part of the government which led to this unfortunate situation,” he said.
“There were deliberate efforts to destroy steel production in the country and benefit steel importers,” Mr. Umar said.
