KARACHI: Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) is facing a looming security crisis as the Defence Security Force (DSF), which has been assisting in protecting the organisation, is scheduled to withdraw its personnel by September 30 amid an acute shortage of security guards and persistent incidents of theft at the mills.

The issue came under discussion during a meeting of the Senate Standing Subcommittee on Industries and Production held at PSM to review the financial and administrative affairs of the organisation.

A statement issued after the meeting said PSM officials informed the three-member subcommittee that only around 190 security guards were currently available at the mills, many of whom required professional training. The officials said the impending withdrawal of DSF personnel could further aggravate the security situation.

The PSM management requested that the DSF withdrawal be carried out in phases rather than immediately, allowing the organisation sufficient time to strengthen its own security arrangements and complete the process of outsourcing additional security services.

Keeping in view the increasing incidents of theft, the scheduled withdrawal of DSF personnel and the shortage of security manpower, the subcommittee recommended that the relevant finance authorities facilitate PSM in recruiting essential personnel to strengthen its security arrangements.

The issue of theft also drew serious concern from committee members. Senator Danesh Kumar questioned the low conviction rate despite the arrest of hundreds of people allegedly involved in theft incidents at the mills and stressed the need for effective investigation and prosecution.

Senator Syeda Khalida Ateeb observed that theft at PSM appeared to be “a chronic and organised issue rather than an isolated activity”, calling for systemic shortcomings to be addressed and institutional accountability to be strengthened.

Senator Syed Masroor Ahsan also expressed serious concern over the encroachment of approximately 290 acres of PSM land, where three union councils have reportedly been established. He termed the situation a reflection of serious shortcomings in departmental accountability and called for effective measures to protect the mills’ land and other assets.

He emphasised that PSM was a national asset and stressed the need to safeguard and utilise its resources in the national interest.

The subcommittee was also briefed on other administrative and financial matters, including the financial position and liabilities of PSM, shortage of manpower, outstanding dues of employees and the issue of encroachment.

Officials informed the committee that approximately 7,000 plots in Gulshan-i-Hadeed Phase-IV were under process for allotment at subsidised market rates.

The committee also heard representatives of the employees’ union regarding their grievances. A list of questions was handed over to the PSM management, which was directed to furnish detailed responses at the next meeting of the subcommittee.

Published in Dawn, September 8th, 2026