The Ministry of Industries and Production (MoI&P) Wednesday acknowledged that all its attached organisations/companies are facing destruction where the selection of Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) was not on merit. This conclusion was shared by the Additional Secretary MoI&P (Admin), Captain Ijaz Hussain (retired) with the members of National Assembly's sub-committee headed by Iftikhar-ud-Din during a meeting held in the office of Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC).
Captain Ijaz who joined the MoI&P a couple of months ago and is still going through their files minutely and looked visibly unhappy with the affairs of different attached departments/companies. "The companies where selection of CEOs was not on merit are facing destruction. Whichever company I look into is in the same situation," he added.
The following organisations and companies are under the administrative control of MoI&P: Engineering Development Board (EDB), Pakistan Institute of Management (PIM), National Fertilizer Corporation(NFC), National Fertilizer Marketing, Small & Medium Enterprises Development Authority (SMEDA), Export Processing Zone Authority (EPZA), Utility Stores Corporation(USC), National Productivity Organisation (NPO), Pakistan Industrial Technical Assistance Centre (PITAC), Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC ), Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC), Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company (PGJDC), Aik Hunar Aik Nagar(AHAN), Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM), Heavy Electrical Complex (HEC). Pakistan Machine Tool Factory (PMTF), Enar Petrotech Services (ENAR), Pakistan Engineering Company (PECO), Technical Upgradation& Skill Development Company (TUSDEC), NFC-Institute of Engineering and Fertilizer Research (NFC-IEFR), National Industrial Parks Development and Management Company (NIP), Pakistan Hunting & Sporting Arms Development Company (PHSADC), Furniture Pakistan, Gujranwala Tools, Dies and Moulds Centre (GTDMC) Ceramics Development and Training Complex, NFC- Institute of Engineering & Technology (NFC-IET) Industrial Facilitation Centre (IFC) State Engineering Corporation (SEC) etc.
The Ministry is holding inquiries against several CEOs and former CEOs of the companies and organisation on charges of corruption and mismanagement. A number of cases are also being investigated by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and Federation Intelligence Agency (FIA). CEO PASDEC informed the committee that Pakistan has reserves of marble and granite worth Rs 300 billion. Pakistan's total production of marble and granite was 3.87 million tons whereas its exports were around $134 million per annum.
Committee members appreciated the efforts of the company in development of marble and granite sector and urged more concerted effort to expedite exploration activities in KP, Balochistan and other parts of the country. Chairman sub-committee Iftikhar-ud-Din said that he has been asked to prepare recommendations for the way forward for all companies falling under the administrative control of MoI&P.
M/s Sajida Begum, PTI Member, argued that PASDEC has done nothing remarkable to develop marble and granite in KP especially in district Buner which is rich in natural resources. However, CEO PASDEC, Zahid Maqsood, claimed that the company has successfully achieved the target of introduction of latest quarrying techniques, technology and skill development in the sector. Wastage at the mechanised quarries developed by the company has been reduced to 45-50 per cent.
He further stated that due to demonstration effect created by PASDEC the mine owners are shifting toward mechanized quarrying in the country. The company has established 14 mechanized quarries, 2 machinery pools and one marble city project. Besides this the company has trained more than 605 operators for mechanized mining and 1262 females for mosaic inlay and handicraft making.
The CEO, however, maintained that no funds have been allocated to the company after 2014, adding that many projects are incomplete due to shortage of funds. He requested that Rs 300 million be allocated under PSDP: Rs 100 million for completion of civil works and operations of Common Facility and Training Centre (CFTC), Rs 13 million for civil works and machinery pools and Rs 187 million for cost of initiation and resumption of quarries.
The sub- committee expressed annoyance at the absence of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) PIDC, Iqbal Tabish in the meeting. The representative of PIDC informed the sub-committee that the CEO had engagements prior to fixing the date of the meeting of the sub- committee but the members refused to accept his explanation. One of the members, Rana Qasim Noon stated that no other meeting is as important as the meeting of a panel of parliament.