KARACHI: Federal Minister for Production Chaudhry Anwer Ali Cheema on Friday said that Pakistan Steel will soon operate at its 100 percent production capacity.
" Pakistan Steel's production has dropped to 14% of its total capacity but the moral of its workers is very high. I am very hopeful , the Mill will soon achieve its 100% production level," he remarked while addressing the employees of Pakistan Steel during the visit of Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf there.
He said that four months back, there were rumours that Pakistan Steel was either going to be closed or privatized.
But, he continued, he and Federal Secretary for Production Gul Muhammad Rind had promised to the workers here that they would quit their offices if the Mill is not revived.
So they fulfilled their promise by getting approved Rs 14.8 billion for the Mill, he said.
He acknowledged a great role of Pakistan Steel in promoting various other industries and development of the country.
He said that an agreement for the expansion of Pakistan Steel would be signed with Russia soon. He thanked Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Federal Minister for Finance Dr. Abdul Hafeez Shaikh for extending their full support for the approval of Rs 14.8 billion for the business plan of Pakistan Steel aimed at its revival and expansion.
The Minister requested the Prime Minister to issue orders for the regularization of doctors , teachers and other staff working under the umbrella of Welfare Trust of Pakistan Steel. More than five thousand PSM employees were regularized last year and these people were not included in this process.
Chief Executive Officer, Pakistan Steel, Lt-Gen. (Retd) Muhammad Jawed apprised the Prime Minister of the problems facing the Mill. He requested that the amount of Rs 14.8 billion for the PS business plan should be released on time/as per schedule so that production activities might not disturb especially for want of raw material.
He informed that for ensuring availability of raw material and reducing the import bill , Pakistan Steel has been trying to utilize domestic raw material. Till date, the PSM has used more than 0.8 million metric tones of iron ore from Balochistan and its market price is around Rs 8 billion.
He said that the expansion programme of Pakistan Steel was in progress. Under the first phase, its production capacity would be increased to 1.5 million tones from the existing capacity of 1.1 million tones per annum. Under the second phase, it would increased to 3 million tones per year.
Chairman , Pakistan Steel People's Workers Union (CBA) Shamshad Ahmed Qureshi requested the Prime Minister to order approval of Charter of Demands of the workers which has been made a part of PS business plan. He assured all possible support for the revival of the Mill , on behalf of the workers.
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