Paramedical staff: NA body says concerned at non-payment of minimum wages

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly Standing Committee on Government Assurances expressed its serious concern over the reported non-payment of minimum wages to the paramedical staff working in private hospitals and other health establishments.

The Committee met here on Thursday with Nuzhat Sadiq in the chair.

The parliamentary panel asked the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to enforce minimum wages for paramedical staff employed in private hospitals to the extent of Islamabad Capital Territory through the available legal framework.

The committee was discussing an Assurance given on the floor of the house by the Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination on a Starred question regarding wages paid to paramedical staff in private hospitals in Islamabad.

The Ministry of National Health Services had contended that the issue does not fall under the purview of the Ministry or the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority and the same fell under the jurisdiction of Islamabad Capital Territory Labour Welfare Department.

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Labour Welfare Department apprised the Committee that they were responsible for implementation of the Minimum Wages Ordinance and the West Pakistan Shops and Establishments Ordinance to the extent of Islamabad; however, under the existing legal framework had no clear enabling provisions for prescribing and enforcing minimum wages specifically for paramedics employed in private hospitals. They further contended that the establishments for the treatment or care of sick and infirm persons are excluded from the operation of both the above-referred laws.

The Representative of the Ministry of National Health Services apprised that the process of registration of Hospitals and Health establishments by the Islamabad Healthcare Authority would begin within a week’s time and the issue of payment of minimum wages could be addressed accordingly.

The Committee, while taking up Assurance regarding payment of boarding and lodging charges by the members of the Pakistan Hockey Squad participating in Asian Champions Trophy 2024 out of their own pocket, the Committee asked the Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board to ensure that the Sports Federations extend all-out support to the players since they were representing Pakistan.

The Committee was apprised that the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) and the Pakistan Sports Board regularly provide grants enabling the sports body to make arrangements for participation of Pakistani Teams in international sports competitions.

In the instant case, the Ministry and the Pakistan Sports Board have provided grants amounting to Rs 59 million and Rs 37 million, respectively, to Pakistan Hockey Federation during financial year 2023-24. In addition to the collective sum of Rs 96 million, the Ministry provided Rs 23 million specifically to cover the participation expenses for the Asian Championship Trophy 2024, and after having ample financial resources, the payment of charges for boarding and lodging does not arise.

The Secretary IPC contended that the news appearing in the media was ill-founded and does not have merit. The Committee, after hearing the reply, disposed of the Assurance. The Committee, while taking up the assurance regarding poor conditions of roads in rural areas of Islamabad, especially Jagiot Road and Sikander-e-Azam Road, expressed its concern on non-completion of the rehabilitation/construction work on both the roads.

The Committee was of the view that the work was initiated in the year 2023 and was still incomplete.

The Committee also expressed its displeasure over the absence of the Chairman or any senior officer of CDA from the meeting. The Committee decided to pend further discussion till its next meeting. The meeting was attended by MNAs: Syed Javed Ali Shah Jillani, Shagufta Jumani, Shahida Rehmani, Hameed Hussain, Sofia Saeed Shah (through Zoom), Natasha Daultana, Muniba Iqbal, Asiya Ishaq Siddique; Secretaries of the concerned Ministries and senior officials of the concerned departments.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026