CM orders water supply restoration to Steel Town, functionalisation of twon’s closed schools, college & hospitals

CM orders water supply restoration to Steel Town, functionalisation of twon’s closed schools, college & hospitals

Murad orders water supply restoration to Steel Town, functionalisation of twon’s closed schools, college & hospitals

CM announced Rs5m for family of recently killed steel mills worker

KARACHI (April 9): Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, presiding over a joint meeting with the Pakistan Steel Mills administration and Trade Union, announced that his government would take over the hospitals, schools, and colleges associated with the steel mills to ensure their operation and ordered the restoration of water supply and electricity to Steel Town.

The meeting held at CM House was attended by provincial ministers Sharjeel Inam Memon, Syed Zia-ul-Hassan Lanjar, Shahid Thaheem, Saeed Ghani, Special Assistant to CM Waqar Mehdi, Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah, IG Police Ghulam Nabi Memon, Principal Secretary Agha Wasif, Commissioner Karachi Hassan Naqvi, Secretary Labour Rafiq Qureshi, CEO Water Board Ahmed Siddiqui, COO Asadullah Khan, CEO PSM Asad Islam Mahani, Convener of Pakistan Steel Grand Alliance Shamshad Qureshi, and representatives from the All Employees Grand Alliance, including Dhani Bakhsh Samo, Mirza Tariq Javed, Akbar Narejo, Saleem Gul, and Akbar Memon.

The chief minister reaffirmed the Sindh Government’s commitment to reviving Pakistan Steel Mills and ensuring the welfare of its employees. “I want to see the issues of Steel Mills employees resolved,” he stated.

Mr Shah announced that 700 acres of land had been allocated for the revival of the mills, and the administration of the mills and the concerned ministry is currently conducting a commercial feasibility study for a new steel plant. He expressed concern over the federal government’s decision to shut down the mills, emphasising that layoffs contradict the goal of revival.

Murad Shah said that he would request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to reinstate 1,370 employees who were laid off before Ramadan, as well as 49 interns and skilled workers dismissed between 2020 and 2021. He also directed the Water Board to restore water supply to Steel Town immediately and instructed the Chief Secretary to ensure this is implemented.

In a significant announcement, the CM stated that Steel Town’s 100-bed hospital, schools, and colleges would be reopened and managed by the Sindh government. He instructed Chief Secretary Asif Hyder Shah to take over and ensure these institutions were made operational without delay.

Union representatives raised concerns about high electricity service charges. The Still Mill CEO informed the chief minister that Steel Mills paid Rs. 30 million in electricity bills to KE while the residents of Steel Town contributed only Rs. 12 million which also caused a loss to the mills. It was also noted that the Steel Mill was purchasing electricity at a commercial rate of Rs. 60 per unit. The Chief Minister ordered that the electricity issues in Steel Town be prioritised.

Murad Ali Shah announced a financial aid package of Rs 5 million for the family of Shaheed Saleem Khushk, a recently martyred PSM worker. He instructed that dismissed employees who have not yet received payments should be considered as employed.

Convener Shamshad Qureshi briefed the Chief Minister on challenges faced by the mills, including pending dues for retired employees from 2021, illegal electricity charges, gas supply issues in Steel Town, and the long-awaited launch of Gulshan-e-Hadeed Phase 4. The Ministry of Industries and Production assured that the phase would be launched soon after consultation.

The Chief Minister formed a committee under the Commissioner of Karachi to survey Steel Town's housing rent issues and electricity tariffs. Meanwhile, the CEO of PSM and the Secretary of Production assured that they would seek federal government approval within four weeks to clear dues.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said, “If we aim to revive Pakistan Steel, there is no justification for laying off employees. I will raise this issue with the Prime Minister and aim to resolve all matters within six weeks.