By Abid Siddique Chaudhry
TWA
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A meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production was convened at Parliament House, chaired by Senator Khalida Ateeb. The committee focused on the Small and Medium Development Authority (SMEDA), emphasizing its role in supporting the approximately 5.2 million SMEs in Pakistan, which contribute 40% to GDP and 30% to exports. The committee recommended exploring public-private partnerships to utilize established Common Facility Centers funded by the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP).
The discussion extended to the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), where officials reported the approval of a Temporary Relief Allowance for PSM employees. However, details regarding stolen items and their market value over the last decade were not provided, prompting the committee to request this information for the next meeting. With an annual loss of Rs. 30 billion and a break-off cost of Rs. 1 billion for maintaining common batteries, the committee urged the ministry to make a decisive decision about the fate of Pakistan Steel Mills.
The committee also addressed the State Engineering Corporation (SEC), highlighting its historical role as a significant public sector organization. Over time, 11 out of the 12 companies owned by SEC have been privatized, leaving only Pakistan Engineering Company in Lahore. The present role of SEC is limited to serving as a liaison officer between the Ministry of Industries and Production, Privatization Commission, and other government entities.
Senators Fida Muhammad, Faisal Saleem Rehman, Saifullah Sarwar Khan Nyazee, Zeeshan Khanzada, Mohammad Abdul Qadir, along with Secretary for Industries and Production Rashid Mahmood Langrial and other senior officials, attended the meeting.
