ISLAMABAD: The Finance Ministry has been directed by the Senate Standing Committee on Industries to release funds for the current development projects on time.
The committee took notice of delays in payments of provident fund and gratuity to Pakistan Steel Mill employees and said that rights of temporary employees should also be safeguarded. The committee was informed that the ECC has sanctioned salaries of the employees till the month of November, whereas Ministry of Finance has to pay provident fund and other payable. Members were further informed that more than 15,000 employees were working in steel mill in three shifts and Pakistan Steel’ s payables till august were Rs.37 billion.
Meanwhile, the officials of Industries Ministry said that ten industries has been converted on solar and a feasibility is being prepared to enhance performance of Heavy Mechanical Complex and a turbine is being developed which will produce more than 300 MW electricity. Senator Taj Haider expressed that gas supply to mill was suspended when mill productivity touched 65 percent.