Islamabad, March 5, 2026: The Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works on Thursday reviewed compliance on directives regarding the transfer and payment of salaries to employees of the former Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak PWD), directing departments to resolve all pending issues without delay.
The committee met at the Old PIPS Hall at Parliament Lodges Islamabad under the chairmanship of Senator Nasir Mehmood. Members reviewed a compliance report submitted by various ministries and departments concerning the transfer of remaining Pak PWD maintenance staff and the release of their salaries, including arrears for the last seven months.
The directive had earlier been issued following a decision of the federal cabinet notified by the Ministry of Housing and Works on September 6, 2024. Departments under review included the Ministry of Interior (Civil Defence), Ministry of Planning, Auditor-General of Pakistan, Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan, Federal Investigation Agency, Federal Board of Revenue, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Border Health Services Pakistan, and the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.
During the briefing, the committee was informed that out of 3,225 employees currently under review, salaries were being paid to 2,940 employees, representing 91.1 percent of the total. These workers have already been absorbed into several federal departments.
The largest number of employees — 1,493 — has been accommodated in the Capital Development Authority, followed by 970 employees in the Estate Office. Other departments paying salaries include the Ministry of Defence (95 employees), Federal Shariat Court (one employee), Ministry of Foreign Affairs (60 employees), Federal Board of Revenue (116 employees), National Accountability Bureau (35 employees), the Controller General of Accounts (90 employees), and the Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan (80 employees).
Officials further told the committee that 185 employees (5.8 percent) had already been absorbed but their salary arrangements were still being processed. These included workers placed in the Federal Board of Revenue, Pakistan Meteorological Department under the Ministry of Defence, the Cabinet Division, and health institutions including Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre and the National Institute of Child Health under Border Health Services.
Another 30 employees (0.9 percent) are in the final stage of transfer, including staff assigned to the Auditor-General of Pakistan and the Intelligence Bureau of Pakistan. Meanwhile, 70 employees (2.2 percent) remain under processing in departments such as the Ministry of Planning, Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Ministry of Maritime Affairs, Ministry of Interior (Civil Defence), and the Federal Investigation Agency.
Chairman Senator Nasir Mehmood said the committee’s intervention aimed solely at ensuring that affected employees received their salaries before the upcoming Eid. He directed all concerned departments to submit compliance reports within three days, while departments requiring additional time were given a maximum of seven days to finalize the process.
The committee also reviewed the ownership status of Chamba House in Lahore, where officials informed members that incomplete documentation had delayed verification of the property record. Historically, the property was maintained by the Pakistan Public Works Department as custodian of lands belonging to the Ministry of Housing and Works, but original records could not be located in the department’s archives.
Members were informed that the matter regarding whether the term “Central Government” is equivalent to the “Federal Government” had been referred to the Ministry of Law and Justice and the Cabinet Division for clarification.
The committee also finalized its report on a starred question raised by Senator Shahadat Awan in the Senate on November 4, 2025 regarding retired government officers occupying official residences in Islamabad and the outstanding rent against them.
The committee took serious notice of the absence of the chairman of the Capital Development Authority during the meeting. Senator Bilal Ahmed Khan warned that if the CDA chairman failed to appear in the next meeting, he would stop attending further sessions of the committee. The chairman CDA was summoned for the next meeting with a final warning, failing which action would be taken under the relevant rules.
The meeting was attended by committee members including Senator Jan Muhammad, Senator Hidayat Ullah Khan, Senator Abdul Shakoor Khan, Senator Khalida Ateeb, Senator Husna Bano, Senator Muhammad Aslam Abro and Senator Naseema Ehsan.
The committee reiterated its commitment to ensuring administrative accountability and the timely resolution of issues affecting government employees and public assets.
