ISLAMABAD: A Senate panel on Wednesday directed the authorities to ensure proper adjustment of all employees of the erstwhile Public Works Department (PWD) with full job protection.

The direction was issued during a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Housing and Works, held here with Senator Nasir Mehmood in the chair.

The committee discussed in detail the issue of non-payment of salaries to 10 PWD employees whose salaries have remained outstanding since July 2025. It emphasised the need for immediate payment of the outstanding dues and adjustment of these employees from the same date on which other PWD employees in Balochistan were adjusted in various departments.

The committee was informed that salaries are being paid without interruption to employees adjusted in different organisations, including 1,493 employees of the Capital Development Authority (CDA), 970 of the Estate Office, 95 of the Ministry of Defence, one of the Federal Shariat Court, 60 of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 116 of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), 35 of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), and 90 of the Controller General of Accounts (CGA).

In total, the committee was told that about 2,860 employees are receiving salaries without interruption. However, around 173 employees are approaching the Finance Division for budget allocation for the current financial year, while the verification process of 83 IB employees is under way. The chairman directed the concerned authorities to confirm whether all the stated employees are actually being paid salaries and to submit a clear and verified position to the committee.

The committee was further briefed on the issue of 15 lower-grade maintenance staff of the Central Civil Division, PWD, who were transferred to AGPR and the T Office, Lahore, but have neither been adjusted nor paid salaries for the past six months.

The committee expressed serious concern over the matter and stressed its expeditious resolution.

The Ministry of Housing and Works briefed the committee on the current status of absorption and induction of PWD employees, as well as the payment of their salaries, pensions, gratuity and other dues.

The committee also reviewed the status of acquisition, development and utilisation of Constantia Estate, Murree. It was informed that the additional deputy commissioner (Revenue), Murree, has advised the submission of a formal request addressed to the deputy commissioner for mutation of the land.

As the Estate Office has been assigned only watch and ward functions of the land, the case has been referred to the Ministry of Housing and Works to decide whether the mutation should be made in favour of the federal government through the ministry or in favour of the ministry through the estate office.

The committee was informed that the matter is under consideration by the competent authority.

Additionally, the ADC (Revenue) has forwarded a letter to the Civil Court, Rawalpindi, requesting the transfer of pending cases to the Dispute Resolution Committee under the Punjab Protection of Ownership of Immovable Property Ordinance for the disposal of sub judice matters.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026