ISLAMABAD: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works reviewed progress on the absorption process of employees of the defunct Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) in other government organisations.
A meeting of the Senate committee was held on Wednesday under the chairmanship of Senator Nasir Mehmood to review compliance by various ministries and divisions regarding the transfer and payment of salaries to the assigned Pakistan Public Works Department maintenance staff.
The committee reviewed a detailed report presented by the Secretary of the Ministry of Housing and Works regarding the implementation of the Federal Cabinet decision notified by the Ministry of Housing and Works on 6 September 2024. The decision directed several ministries and divisions to accept the transfer of assigned Pak PWD maintenance staff and ensure payment of their salaries, along with arrears for the last eight months.
During the meeting, it was informed that the National Accountability Bureau, the Intelligence Bureau, and the Federal Board of Revenue have shown compliance with the committee’s directives. The Intelligence Bureau has accepted 8 employees and issued appointment orders after approval by the Director General. Appointment letters have been dispatched, and salary bills will be processed shortly. One case is pending since the employee is deputed in Karachi rather than Balochistan. The pension process for the deceased employee has also been initiated and dispatched.
The committee was informed that the Auditor General of Pakistan has forwarded a list of twenty employees to the Ministry through the Director General of the Pak PWD on 9 March 2026. Officials stated that once funds are released by the Finance Division, the salary bills will be generated, and the process of payment will begin within the next two days.
Officials from the Ministry of Defence informed the committee that seven employees fall under their jurisdiction, and the matter has been referred to the Finance Division for allocation of budgetary resources. Similarly, the Cabinet Division has also approached the Finance Division for the required funds to process salary payments.
The Federal Investigation Agency informed the committee that it received the staff list only yesterday. Officials stated that the number of employees initially communicated was 21, but the revised list contains 49 employees; it requires time to complete internal processing.
It was further noted that other departments have begun receiving the lists of assigned staff and are in the process of initiating compliance in accordance with the Cabinet decision.
Chairman of the Committee Senator Nasir Mehmood reviewed the status of each ministry individually and directed all concerned departments to expedite the process. He emphasized that the delay in payment of salaries and arrears must be addressed without further delay.
The chairman stated that the committee will continue strict monitoring of the matter to ensure that all affected employees receive their salaries and arrears in accordance with the Federal Cabinet decision.
He said the committee examined the performance of each ministry one by one to ensure the timely dispatch of salaries to protect the rights of the employees affected by the transfer of Pak PWD maintenance staff.
The meeting concluded with directions to all concerned ministries and divisions to complete the remaining procedural requirements on priority and submit updated compliance reports to the committee.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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