Decision to abolish PWD: Has the government done its homework?

recently federal government On behalf of Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) has been decided to end. Although the alleged cause ofCorruption‘ is being told, but many questions are being raised on this government decision.

The first question is whether the government is really going to close an institution? If the government has decided to close the institution instead of improving it, what are the reasons? How much benefit will the government get by abolishing this institution and what will be the future of the employees of this institution?

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has ordered the closure of the institution due to ‘poor performance and corruption’. In his message on X, he wrote: ‘There is zero tolerance for corruption and incompetence. My decision to abolish the Pakistan Public Works Department is a step towards removing the canker that is eating away at our system like a cancer from within. ‘

The Pakistan Public Works Department was established in 1854 by Lord Dalhousie during the Indian subcontinent, with the aim of implementing construction projects in the region.

After the establishment of Pakistan in 1947, it was renamed as Pakistan PWD. Now it is a department attached to the Ministry of Housing and Works, where regarding seven thousand employees are working. Its head office is located in Islamabad while there are subsidiary offices in all the major cities of the country.

This organization implements the projects of construction of buildings and infrastructure of the federal government. The department’s website mentions several road construction projects across the country, including the construction of a model jail in Islamabad, NAB headquarters.

When Independent Urdu contacted the federal ministers, it was confirmed that following the government’s decision to abolish PWD, there has been progress on the issue and the government has now formed a special committee. .

Federal Law Minister Nazir Tarar told Independent Urdu that PWD is being terminated due to corruption. He said that there are several reasons for the government’s decision to abolish PWD, which will be disclosed by the concerned department.

“PWD is a transferred subject, there is Capital Development Authority (CDA) in the Federation, so there is no need for PWD.”

On the other hand, Federal Minister for Housing and Works Riaz Hussain Pirzada told Independent Urdu that the government has formed a committee headed by him regarding the abolition of PWD. “There is a government proposal on which consultation is going on and the final proposals will be prepared now.”

At the same time, he said: ‘There has been no progress on this issue but the media has started saying that PWD is being abolished. Right now, only one committee has been formed, the important decision has to be made further.’

Raja Haroon Rasheed, Chief Coordinator of Pakistan PWD Contractors Association of Pakistan, opposed the abolition of the institution in a statement saying that PWD is a constitutional institution and the committee formed by the Prime Minister for the proposals of the Ministry There is no law officer involved, from whom legal advice can be sought.’

He insisted that ‘action should be taken once morest the corrupt officers instead of closing the institution.’

On the other hand, the employees of the department have been protesting once morest this decision of the government for many days across the country.

This section contains related reference points (Related Nodes field).

Union member of PWD department Shaukat Silhari told Independent Urdu that if the government does not withdraw this decision, the unions will approach the court once morest it.

He said that this move is only to benefit the other state-owned construction company, which was given a free hand in all development projects under the CDA.

The Ministry of Housing and Works had written a letter to the Director General PWD last month on May 31, seeking details of the department’s financial position, performance and employees, while the ministry has asked for details of government properties, assets, liabilities under the department’s management. And the details of the lands have also been requested.

A PWD official, on the condition of anonymity, claimed that the institution had ‘constitutional protection. Any government would need at least a two-thirds majority to close the PWD.’

However, according to the Constitution of Pakistan, two-thirds majority is not required to amend the Rules of Business.

The official said that PWD is the custodian of most government properties and buildings, including Parliament Lodges, Ministers’ Enclave, Gulshan Jinnah, Chamba House and MNA Hostel. PWD is responsible for maintenance of development projects across Pakistan.

He said: ‘Departments which are running loss-making or overlapping, like PWD, have been decided to be closed. As there is Capital Development Authority in Islamabad, Rawalpindi Development Authority in Rawalpindi and Lahore Development Authority in Lahore, the work of these institutions overlaps with PWD.

At the same time, he said that ‘the employees have not yet been told what their future will be. There are reports that they may be integrated into other departments or given a golden handshake. However, the employees have not been told anything regarding this yet.’

He also claimed that the PWD was in decline because it was never among the priorities of the government. ‘One of the reasons for the destruction of this institution is the minister, the member of the National Assembly, the chief engineer within the department, XCN and SDO.’

A few years ago, the federal government had also decided to close the Pakistan Housing Authority. The reason for this was also said to be ‘poor performance and corruption’ of the institution.

Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had also announced in his budget speech in the National Assembly on June 12 that the Pakistan Works Department (PWD) would be closed. However, he attributed this to the reduction in government expenditure and the strategy to reduce the fiscal deficit.

The finance minister said: ‘We are reducing unnecessary expenditure so a committee has been formed to review the structure of the federal government to reduce the size and waste of resources.’ The committee will submit its recommendations in two and a half months.

Analysts feel that the government should have done its homework first and announced the winding up of the institution. Until the final announcement in this regard, there is a fear that the employees will remain anxious and the work of the ongoing projects will be affected.