Body formed to plan Pak-PWD wind-up

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed a five-member committee to plan the closure of the Pak-Public Works Department (Pak-PWD), it emerged on Thursday. 

On Monday, the premier ordered authorities to shut down Pak-PWD due to its years-long “poor performance and corruption.”

During a meeting on reducing government expenditures, PM Shehbaz noted that Pak-PWD had failed to achieve its objectives and solicited alternate mechanisms for the development projects assigned to this department. 

The committee to devise a final closure plan is headed by Federal Housing and Works Minister Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada. Other members include Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Jehanzeb Khan, as well as the establishment, power, and housing secretaries.

The committee will present the final plan to PM Shehbaz in two weeks. The additional secretary to the prime minister has notified the formation of the body.

In a related development, thousands of Pak-PWD employees continued their protest against the premier’s decision for the second straight day on Thursday. Gathered outside the Pak-PWD office, they demanded that the PM root out corrupt elements from the department instead of shutting it down.