Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reviewed the legal and procedural aspects of dissolving the Public Works Department (PWD) on Sunday, focusing on the re-employment of diligent employees and suggesting age relaxation for those with short service tenures. During a high-level meeting, PM Sharif underscored that employees with serious corruption charges would not receive financial packages.
The meeting, attended by Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Housing and Works Minister Riaz Hussain Pirzada, and senior officials, addressed the planned shutdown of the PWD due to its poor performance and corruption over the years. The Prime Minister directed that a comprehensive plan for transferring ongoing projects from the PWD to provincial authorities be submitted promptly.
PM Sharif also emphasized that all proposals related to the PWD’s closure should be presented to the cabinet for approval. The decision to shut down the department aligns with the government’s broader strategy to eliminate loss-making entities and cut expenditures.
A senior PWD official noted that the department’s dissolution would require a two-thirds majority in Parliament due to its “constitutional cover,” and employees have indicated plans to challenge the decision in court. The PWD manages government properties and infrastructure projects across Pakistan, making its dissolution a significant move.
In a separate directive, PM Sharif instructed the Ministry of Information Technology and other relevant departments to implement a paperless system for federal government offices. He set a deadline for all office files to be processed exclusively through the e-office system within a month and stated he would only review files submitted through this system from then on. The Prime Minister stressed the importance of digitization for improving governance and transparency.
The PM’s Office staff has already undergone e-office training, and PM Sharif has begun using the system himself. A report on the progress of the e-office implementation is expected within the next two weeks.
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