E-Paper | June 22, 2026

Layoffs of state-owned enterprises employees to be resisted: Bilawal

The Newspaper's Staff Reporter Published June 4, 2020
Says PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills, two of Pakistan’s biggest assets, had been targeted by the PTI government from day one. — APP/File
Says PIA and Pakistan Steel Mills, two of Pakistan’s biggest assets, had been targeted by the PTI government from day one. — APP/File
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KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has warned the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government to stop conspiring against the workers and labourers employed by state-owned enterprises, adding that any layoff of government, semi-government or state corporation employees would be vehemently resisted.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, the PPP chairman said Prime Minister Imran Khan and some of his cabinet members were involved in a plot to unleash a wave of unemployment and chaos and create a situation to sell off state-owned enterprises for peanuts to their invisible partners.

He added that PIA and Pakistan Steel, two of Pakistan’s biggest assets, had been targeted by the PTI government from day one of its induction and that slowly it had set into motion its plan to deprive thousands of workers and millions of their family members of their livelihoods.

Published in Dawn, June 4th, 2020

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Rizwan
Jun 04, 2020 12:10pm
Bilawal is a genius he should come up with a plan .Or better he should be made Chairman of a State organization and let him run the show.
Recommend 0
Zuk
Jun 04, 2020 04:40pm
These were the exact words of PTI when N League government tried to lay off PIA employees. PTI is now forced to bite the dust of its own follies as opposition party.
Recommend 0
Patriot
Jun 04, 2020 04:59pm
You can afford and pay out of your looted money, come-on have some guts to take some blessings.
Recommend 0
amer
Jun 04, 2020 06:16pm
Indeed your PPP workers got the job at the mill without even working. Also it will impact your family and co pockets.
Recommend 0
Sher Khan
Jun 04, 2020 06:55pm
I would like to arrest all PPP minister and Zardari of that time, when Steel Mill was in profit and PPP turned into loss, catch Riaz LalJee, where he is now?
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Akram
Jun 04, 2020 07:45pm
conspiring against the workers? how about bilawal talking up for the tax payer? This is not an endless bucket of money to milk out of people. PSM & PIA are both basket cases that have been due for an overhaul for years full of useless political appointees. How many billions has been flushed down the toilet over the years in pursuit of fantasy in these 2 organisations? In most developed countries both steel mills and airlines are privately owned.
Recommend 0
Talha
Jun 04, 2020 09:34pm
Valid point indeed, you cannot just sell off national assets to cronies.
Recommend 0
parveez shafi
Jun 05, 2020 01:46am
Your government helped to destroy PIA, with the help of Nawaz & Co
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Syed A. Mateen
Jun 05, 2020 02:38am
Former Prime Minister Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Grand Father of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari have termed Pakistan Steel Miils as "White Elephant". Why Bilawal want to resist against the termination of Pakistan Steel Mills employees as these employees from top to bottom have already eaten up the "White Elephant" long time back. These employees once terminated can be re-employed by PPP on contract basis that when ever there will be any Jalsa any where in Sindh, there presence can make all the difference as the head count of any PPP Jalsa for print and electronic media or through flying drones will start from 10,000 people, and the strength of PPP workers who will come to chant slogans of "Jeeye Bhutto Sadda Jeeye" will be an added advantage for PPP to prove its strength.
Recommend 0
Ahsan Gul
Jun 05, 2020 02:47am
Bilawal your forefathers have been playing the same game with the British Raj against the simple minded Muslims. Time for the landlords is coming to an end in few years. Your cunning politics is not going to work for long. You or your family are not sincere and the people of Sindh know. Thanks
Recommend 0
iqbal
Jun 05, 2020 04:34am
Both of these companies need to be sold or fire most and hire new young educated people who can work hard and make money for the company and country. At this time I know from my experience PIA has bad staff....Need to start with CEO who does not care about public and his attitude reflects on the lower staff. People should be hired based on qualifications! I can not speak about the steel company but they should have similar standards for employees.
Recommend 0
Ajmal Hussain
Jun 05, 2020 07:10am
Mr. Bilawal have mercy on the people of Pakistan. Every year Government has to put billion of rupees just to keep this complex open. It is the money of common people who do not want to and cannot carry this burden. Employees are getting a good deal called hand shake. With this twenty three lac rupees they can start a small business and there are chances of getting jobs also if they have some education including technical. Please do not stir hate. Look at facts and figures.
Recommend 0

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