Public sector organizations: Panel questions million-rupee salaries

ISLAMABAD: A Senate committee on Thursday questioned million-rupee salaries in public sector organisations, seeking details of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation (OPF) managing director’s appointment and pay package and asking why officials unable to deliver continued to receive hefty salaries.

The concerns surfaced during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Cabinet Secretariat, chaired by Rana Mahmoodul Hassan, which reviewed public appointments, administrative affairs and the telecommunications sector.

Committee member Aimal Wali Khan challenged the appointment of the OPF managing director, questioning how the government could pay an OPF official Rs1 million a month while preaching austerity and citing financial constraints.

He told the panel that another OPF official was drawing Rs2.5 million a month, raising fresh questions over lucrative pay packages in public sector institutions.

The senator further alleged that the OPF managing director neither possessed a Pakistani National Identity Card nor was a Pakistani citizen by birth, claiming he was born a British citizen.

He also questioned how a person convicted by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) could secure another government appointment.

Taking notice, the committee ordered the relevant authorities to furnish complete details of the appointment, including the selection process, eligibility criteria and terms of service of the OPF managing director.

Responding to questions over high-paid appointments, Establishment Division officials told the committee that suitable candidates were not always available for certain specialised positions, necessitating appointments on higher salaries.

Aimal Wali also blasted what he called the practice of retaining officials despite prolonged absence or an inability to perform their responsibilities.

He singled out the chairman of the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), questioning why he continued to receive Rs3.2 million a month despite, according to the senator, not attending committee meetings.

The senator said the NEPRA chairman fell ill only weeks after his appointment, had stopped attending office, yet continued to draw his salary.

The committee sought an explanation from the relevant authorities and directed officials to ensure greater transparency and accountability in public sector institutions.

The committee was also briefed on developments in the telecommunications sector, including the proposed merger of Ufone and Telenor.

Pakistan Telecommuni-cation Authority (PTA) Chairman Maj Gen Hafizur Rehman (retd) told the panel Pakistan now had 210 million active SIMs, reflecting continued growth in mobile connectivity.

He said PTCL and Ufone were being separated as part of an ongoing restructuring process and informed lawmakers that a new telecommunications company would be established following the merger of Ufone and Telenor.

Responding to concerns raised by the committee chairman over disruptions in Ufone services, the PTA chairman said the company was government-owned and the issues would be resolved once the merger process was completed.

He also informed the committee that the PTA was working with NADRA to enable SIM issuance through the Pak ID platform, allowing citizens to obtain SIMs from home through a digital system.

During a discussion on digital transformation, Saleem Mandviwalla noted that many countries had already shifted to eSIM technology and questioned Pakistan’s pace in adopting modern telecom solutions.

The committee also reviewed appointments through the High-Powered Selection Board (HPSB) and the Central Selection Board (CSB).

The secretary of the Establishment Division told the committee an HPSB meeting was expected within four to five weeks, while the CSB was likely to meet within six to eight weeks.

The committee chairman directed the authorities to submit the required information without delay for review of pending issues relating to public appointments, governance reforms and institutional performance.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026