PM directs immediate abolishment of Pakistan Public Works Department

Shehbaz says department ‘failed’ to achieve its objectives

ISLAMABAD:

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed for the immediate dissolution of the Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD) due to years-long poor performance and corruption.

The prime minister issued a directive during a high-level meeting held on reducing the government expenditures and the size of its infrastructure, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said in a press release.

During the meeting, the prime minister observed that Pak PWD as a department had failed to achieve its objectives and asked for alternate mechanisms for the development projects which were tasked to the department.

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The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Adviser on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue, Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan and other relevant senior officials.

For the reduction of government expenditures, the prime minister was apprised of a report compiled by a committee headed by Chairman Deputy Planning Commission Jehanzeb Khan.

The committee had recommended for abolishment of certain government entities and merger of others. The prime minister directed the committee to finalize further recommendations.