Thousands of former Pak PWD employees still await salaries as Committee slams bureaucratic delay

The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works erupted in frustration over massive delays in salary payments to former Pakistan

Islamabad: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works erupted in frustration over massive delays in salary payments to former Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) employees, exposing systemic inefficiencies and administrative apathy across federal ministries. Despite being adjusted in various departments, thousands of workers remain unpaid, sparking fears of widespread exploitation and financial insecurity.

Chairman Senator Nasir Mehmood openly criticized ministries for misleading assurances, stating that the Committee would not tolerate empty promises. Officials revealed that out of 20,024 former Pak PWD employees, only 3,094 had received salaries, while around 30 cases remained pending, including employees in the Ministry of Planning and Ministry of Religious Affairs. “These delays are unacceptable,” Senator Mehmood said, stressing that commitments made to the Committee must be implemented without further excuses.

The Committee also took up the plight of contractual employees, highlighting that existing rules deny them pensions. While the Ministry of Housing and Works had submitted proposals for special consideration, no concrete action has been taken yet, leaving many workers in limbo. Senator Naseema Ehsan highlighted the plight of widows and families of deceased employees, urging immediate resolution to their pending cases.

Beyond employee issues, the Committee reviewed stalled development projects, including the Green Enclave I Housing Project, which has faced prolonged delays due to litigation, NAB inquiries, land disputes, bank guarantees, COVID-19 impacts, and contractual complications. Despite partial resumption of work, allottees continue to suffer from financial and operational setbacks. Chairman Mehmood warned, “Thousands of citizens invested in good faith; they deserve timely delivery, not excuses.”

The Committee directed contractor Dr. Hafeez Abbasi to appear in the next session to explain persistent delays and emphasized that all stakeholders must cooperate to complete projects promptly. Officials confirmed that new housing schemes are on hold until ongoing projects are completed, highlighting a major bottleneck in government housing delivery.

Other projects under scrutiny included lift replacements at Shaheed-e-Millat Secretariat, which remain incomplete, and the Model Jail project, where only Phase-I is near completion, while Phase-II, including women’s facilities, is still pending. The Committee demanded an on-site inspection in August to ensure accountability and prevent further slippage.

In a stern warning, Senator Mehmood urged all ministries and departments to implement recommendations immediately and submit detailed progress reports in the next meeting, signaling zero tolerance for bureaucratic inaction.