Press Release Title: Senator Khalida Ateeb, Convener Sub-Committee Of The Senate Standing Committee On Industries And Production Presiding Over A Meeting Of The Committee At Parliament Lodges Islamabad.

Press Release Date: 6th November, 2025

The meeting of the Sub-Committee of the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production was held today under the convenership of Senator Khalida Ateeb. The Convener welcomed Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan and Husna Bano to the meeting. Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi also attended the meeting as a Special Invitee. The Sub-Committee reviewed the pending gratuity payments of retired employees of the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), PSM informed the Committee that gratuity has been paid to 288 retired employees, while the remaining 293 cases are expected to be settled during November 2025. The Committee emphasized that the liabilities of deserving retired employees must be cleared on a priority basis. Senator Syed Waqar Mehdi raised the issue of excessive electricity bills, reportedly 400 times higher, being charged to residents of the PSM area. The CEO clarified that subsidized rates are provided to serving employees of PSM, while encroachers and unauthorized occupants within PSM premises are charged at higher rates. The CEO further apprised the Committee that the salaries of PSM employees had not been revised since 2012. However, in recent years, adjustments have been made to align with the basic salary benchmarks set by the Government of Pakistan. Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan expressed concern over the absence of PSM’s financial experts during the meeting and directed that the Finance Department of PSM be summoned in the next session. He also noted with great concern about the non-provision of required data by relevant authorities. The Committee directed PSM management to submit details of the current copper stock held by PSM and the estimated value of copper/scrap lost in theft incidents over the past decade. Senator Waqar Mehdi recommended for conducting a third-party evaluation of the copper and scrap inventory currently held by PSM. Taking serious notice of the theft cases, the Convener emphasized the need to identify and dismantle the network involved in such incidents. Mr. Memraz Khan, PSMC Stakeholders Group, also attended the meeting and revealed about the facts and figures about the PSM. In conclusion, the Convener directed that the next meeting of the Sub-Committee be held in Karachi to conduct an on-ground review of all issues related to PSM and urged the authorities to ensure early resolution of pending matters.