The government recently appointed Mohsin Haqqani, a BS-22 officer of Pakistan Administrative Services (PAS) as Chairman Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA) under Ministry of Industries and Production with additional change of the post of CEO PSM for a period of three months or till the privatisation of PSM whichever occurs earlier.
On March 22, 2017, the then Secretary Privatisation Commission, Sardar Ahmad Nawaz Sukhera revealed that the federal government is working on a new integrated module to privatise PSM which would comprise settlement of liabilities hovering around Rs 200 billion and making the mill operational.
The mill is dysfunctional due to disconnection of gas supply by SSGC as the former is unable to clear Rs 40 billion bills including late payment surcharge. Well-informed sources told Business Recorder that a meeting pertaining to PSM payable debts of NBP & SSGC was held recently in Islamabad. Standing Committee is divided on the future of PSM as the incumbent Chairman wants to rehabilitate it but Members from PML(N) maintain that the mill cannot be made operational in current circumstances.
The Economic Co-ordination Committee of the Cabinet has also directed Privatisation Commission to prepare a plan to pay salaries to employees. The committee will also discuss implementation status of its recommendations regarding a legislation to enforce and impose the compulsory penalty upon the automobile industry for delayed delivery of vehicles.
Regularisation of serving daily wages/contract in Utility Stores Corporation (USC) will also come under discussion. The corporation will brief the committee on zone wise details of the employees posted on daily wages/contract along with criteria/ procedure of their appointment.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2017