SC stops government to sell land of Pakistan Steel Mills

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – The Supreme Court (SC) on Monday stopped the government from selling land owned by Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). A two-member bench of the apex court headed by Justice Gulzar Ahmed heard a petition concerning a shortage of funds to pay provident funds and gratuities to former PSM employees. The court expressed anger on the mills and predicted to take notice the matter. During the hearing, the deputy advocate general told the court that PSM did not have sufficient funds to pay salaries and provident funds to employees. “We are selling the land in order to pay dues,” he said. Lashing out at the steel mill’s performance, the justice said that Pakistan Steel Mills’ output is zero. “It has been ruined by the responsible people to fill their own pockets,” he added. “PSM was a huge institution. Hundreds of steel mills operated with the help of steel mills,” he recalled. “Cars, trucks and even rockets were prepared in PSM.” The bench barred the government from disposing of PSM land to address its financial crisis, saying it cannot be sold as it belongs to the people. The hearing was subsequently adjourned for 15 days. On the other hand, an appeal against the attachment of an account operated by the Ministry of Industries and Production was also dismissed after the government withdrew it.