A Senate sub-committee on Industries and Production has launched a detailed investigation in Islamabad into alleged theft and chronic mismanagement at Pakistan Steel, where materials valued at an estimated Rs 10 billion are reported missing. The probe focuses on large-scale removal of valuable items including electrical wires and metal components, and seeks clarity across multiple FIRs lodged in connection with the losses.
Chaired by Senator Khalida Ateeb, the committee examined the available FIRs and expressed alarm that only a single suspension has been recorded so far despite the magnitude of the alleged theft at Pakistan Steel. The sub-committee urged immediate measures to secure remaining assets while the investigations proceed.
Senator Ateeb warned that such a large-scale loss cannot be the work of an individual and described the situation as a well-coordinated chain of corruption. She directed a comprehensive accountability drive to identify and prosecute every person involved and ordered an inquiry to determine the full estimated financial losses alongside a detailed report on all ongoing criminal and departmental proceedings.
The CEO of Pakistan Steel briefed committee members that criminal cases and internal inquiries are under way, assuring that all proceedings are being conducted with procedural fairness and that punitive action will follow upon conclusion of investigations. He also highlighted persistent electricity and water shortages as major operational challenges undermining the mill’s performance, while noting that Pakistan Steel continues to meet employee salaries independently without direct financial assistance.
The sub-committee noted that Pakistan Steel holds significant land assets designated as industrial zones, but observed that the FIR alleging land encroachment failed to specify the total area affected. To ensure a structured and transparent inquiry, members instructed officials to draft precise terms of reference so the probe can proceed on a data-driven basis. Senator Ateeb criticized the recurring transfer of secretaries, saying such moves hinder sustained reform and effective oversight.
Lawmakers also discussed implications of the State-Owned Enterprises Act for improved governance and accountability at Pakistan Steel, and resolved to summon representatives of labor and workers’ unions for firsthand accounts of workplace grievances. Officials from the Water and Sewerage Company will be asked to address chronic supply issues affecting the mill’s locality. The session was held under the Senate Secretariat’s Media Directorate and attended by Senators Syed Masroor Ahsan and Husna Bano alongside the convener, with the committee vowing to pursue the matter until full accountability and sustainable reforms revive this key industrial asset.
