NA Panel Slams Ministerial No-Show, Raises Alarm Over Utility Stores Layoffs
News Desk
Islamabad: The National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Industries and Production has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the absence of the concerned minister and secretary from its latest meeting, emphasizing the importance of ministerial presence in key policy discussions.
Chaired by Syed Hafeezuddin, MNA, the committee convened at Parliament House, Islamabad, where it reviewed critical issues, including the termination of employees from the Utility Stores Corporation (USC), electricity subsidies provided by K-Electric to Karachi-based industries, and the non-implementation of the government’s minimum wage policy.
Utility Stores Layoffs Under Scrutiny
The committee took serious note of recent employee terminations at the Utility Stores Corporation and directed the Managing Director of USC to submit a detailed list of affected employees. Lawmakers also demanded that minutes of all Cabinet Committee meetings regarding the Utility Stores be made available for review.
K-Electric Subsidy Issue and Legal Battle
The committee also addressed the dispute over electricity subsidies provided by K-Electric to Karachi-based industries during the COVID-19 pandemic, a case currently under review at the Islamabad High Court.
A NEPRA representative briefed the committee on the regulatory authority’s ruling against K-Electric. After extensive deliberations, the committee urged the Power Division, NEPRA, K-Electric, and two committee members to find a mediated resolution and report back.
Minimum Wage Violations in EPZs and Parliament Cafeteria
Raising concerns over labor rights, MNA Syed Rafiullah highlighted that the government’s minimum wage of Rs. 37,000 per month was not being implemented in Export Processing Zones (EPZs) or even within the Parliament Cafeteria. The Export Processing Zones Authority (EPZA) and several industrial units have failed to comply with the directive, leaving low-income workers vulnerable.
The committee resolved to escalate the issue to the National Assembly, urging decisive action to enforce the minimum wage across all sectors and prevent further exploitation of workers.
Lawmakers in Attendance
The meeting was attended by MNAs Shahid Usman, Sajid Mehdi, Kiran Imran Dar, Romina Khurshid Alam, Dr. Mahesh Kumar Malani, Abdul Hakeem Baloch, Naz Baloch, Dr. Mahreen Razzaq Bhutto, Muhammad Mobeen Arif, Muhammad Saad Ullah, Rana Atif, Muhammad Ali Sarfraz, Muhammad Arshad Sahi, Syed Raza Ali Gillani, and Syed Rafiullah, along with the Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Industries and other senior officials from the ministry and related departments.
