Minister for Industries and Production, Shehzada Ehsan Afzal Sheikh is furious over Secretaries of Ministry of Production and Ministry of Industries for reportedly not extending co-operation to him in official matters, well informed sources told Business Recorder.
"He has written a letter to the caretaker Prime Minister, Mir Hazar Khan Khoso, against Secretary Production, in which the Minister has stated that Secretary Production is not capable to work in federal government. Secretary Industries is also biased. They do not clear files. He does not seek favour but at least files should be gone through," the sources quoted Shehzada Ehsan Sheikh as saying.
Replying to a question, the sources said the Minister had dissolved the Board Furniture Pakistan and got approved a new board from the Prime Minister but the Secretary Production was creating hurdles in issuance of notification of the new board. The sources claimed the incumbent CEO, Pakistan Furniture, remained on his seat on allegedly fake documents. According to the PIDC Secretary, the board has not approved his appointment as CEO.
Replying to a question, the sources said, Managing Director National Fertiliser Marketing Limited (NFML), Tariq Shafi Khan, who had been sacked, was also visiting Ministry of Industries frequently against the Minister's will. "He has asked Secretary Industries why sacked officials are coming to him," the sources continued. The sources further stated that Fakhar Cheema, a General Manager in NFML, who had been surrendered to his parent department, was also seen in the Ministry.
The sources said, formalities for Rs 11 billion bailout package for PSM had also been finalised and Shehzada Ehsan Sheikh is reaching Karachi on Tuesday (today) to meet the officials of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP). Answering another question, the sources said, PSM would open an additional Rs 3 billion facility (L/C) on Tuesday through Escrow Account to be provided by the NBP. NBP has also agreed to restructuring and re-scheduling of load with a view to enabling PSM to continue its operations, the sources concluded.