ISLAMABAD: Up to 93 percent of employees of the defunct Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) are receiving their salaries regularly, whereas efforts are under way to streamline the salaries of the remaining 7 percent.
According to a senior official of Pak PWD, as per cabinet decision dated 27-08-2024, 3225 employees of PWD under maintenance staff establishment have been transferred from Pak PWD to designated transferee organisations; i.e., Capital Development Authority, Estate Office and ministries, divisions, departments concerned. Their terms and conditions shall be dealt with under the Maintenance Staff Rules-2018 (non-statutory).
He said 264 Upkeep Staff who were posted at the Federal Lodges had been transferred to the Estate Office, and they are getting salaries regularly.
However, the decision has yet to be taken as to fate of civil servants working under regular staff establishment which is dependent upon approval of amendments in Civil Servants Ac, 1973 and severance package. These employees are working at their respective offices.
It may be mentioned here Pak PWD has two establishments; i.e., Regular Staff Establishment and Maintenance Staff Establishment comprising 6149 number of employees which is divided into following categories; i) Maintenance Staff which consist of 3225 non-civil servants and ii) Regular Staff which include 2940 civil servants, engineering & office staff and Upkeep Staff (264- Civil Servants).
He said the dissolution of the Pakistan Public Works Department was made in haste, and its closure is created a lot of problems for the bureaucracy.
Sudden closure of PWD created confusion among different ministries about who would manage the ongoing development projects, which were managed by now-defunct PWD, he added.
He said to terminate the services of permanent employees the government has made an amendment in the Civil Service Act. He said the PWD top officials advised the government to shut down the PWD in a gradual manner within 2 to 3 years, but no attention was paid to their advice.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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