ISLAMABAD: A parliamentary committee on Tuesday was surprised to know that an important national organisation, State Life Insurance Corporation (SLIC), was headless for the past two months.
During a meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Commerce, it was revealed by the SLIC officials that despite two advertisements for the post of SLIC chairman, the position was still lying vacant.
The officials informed that “no one in the corporation was given an acting or additional charge” in the absence of the chairman.
Committee Chairman Naveed Qamar questioned the officials about the affairs of the government entity, which holds businesses worth billions and has massive assets.
Both the commerce ministry and SLIC officials were found clueless regarding the absence of SLIC’s head. However, the official claimed that a summary to give additional charge to someone in the corporation was pending with the federal cabinet.
As per new rules, the federal cabinet was the only authority that could give additional charge of the key post of government organizations, the MoC officials informed.
Later, the committee directed the ministry to resolve the issue immediately as the absence of SLIC chairman was hampering the organization’s business.
Meanwhile, the committee also discussed matters regarding the termination of daily wagers at SLIC.
The committee was informed that SLIC had decided to make new recruitments in the organisation. “SLIC will publish 590 vacancies for the recruitment of new employees, and 152 daily wagers who were terminated earlier would be considered on a priority basis (they will be given an extra 5pc marks).”
The committee recommended that terminated employees having one-year service should be considered as a special case.
Earlier, the NA body discussed budgetary proposals of the Ministry of Commerce pertaining to Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) for the Financial Year 2020-2021.
Giving a briefing on the proposed PSDP 2020-21, the additional secretary said that remodeling of Peshawar and Quetta expo centres and expansion of Karachi Expo Centre have been proposed for required funds.
He also briefed the committee about the new schemes regarding the remodeling of Karachi Expo Centre (II & III).
Furthermore, the committee discussed new steps taken by the government to enhance the domestic exports to Finland.
The additional secretary informed that Pakistani exports to Finland have been declining for the past many years. The committee took a serious notice on the reply furnished by the Ministry of Commerce to the National Assembly with reference to starred question no. 50, wherein the ministry had mentioned that exports to Finland had increased up to 15pc during 2018.
The NA committee directed the ministry to probe into the matter and fix responsibility against the concerned officers for providing incorrect information to the parliament.
