Senate body concerned over rising vehicles’ prices in country

ISLAMABAD-Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production on Monday has once again expressed concerns over the increasing vehicles’ prices in the country without any check and control from the government.

The meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Industries and Production was held at Parliament House on Monday. Senators pointed out the issues of rising cars prices in the country. They said that auto companies are increasing the vehicles prices by making an excuse of currency depreciation. They alleged the auto companies made monopoly in the country. Later, the committee has decided the matter will be placed on the agenda in the next meeting. The committee reviewed matters related to regularisation of services and increase in salaries of the employees of National Fertilizer and Marketing Limited (NFML), regional office Lodhran, and regularisation of 72 NFML sacked employees. Rationalisation and non-monopolisation of the automobile industry and steel and iron scraps were discussed as well. Deliberating over the matter of regularisation of services and increase in salaries of the employees of NFML, regional office Lodhran, the committee stressed the need for the matter to be resolved at the earliest. It enquired the ministry for the reasons for delay and was informed that the NFML BOD meeting had been delayed for upto an year. The committee showed grave concern regarding this and questioned the ministry whether any measures had been taken to rectify this situation. The committee was informed that total contract employees were 316 in number that were recruited in 2011 and 2012. Regarding increase in salaries, the committee was informed that a 30 percent increase in salaries and medical allowance had been approved in the BOD meeting held on 27 August, 2022. The annual financial impact of the increase has been approximately Rs44 million. The committee stressed the need for all ambiguity that is surrounding the merger of the organisation to be cleared at the earliest, stating it the main reason for delay. Regarding regularisation of 72 NFML sacked employees, the committee was informed that these had been hired by the third party contractor and terminated from the service after expiration of the contract on 31 August, 2020. It was decided that the aggrieved may seek remedy from the contracting company and that NFML stood absolved of any charges related to the issue. The meeting was chaired by Senator Khalida Ateeb and was attended by Senator Dr Asif Kirmani, Senator Faisal Saleem Rehman, Senator Zeeshan Khanzada, Senator Mohammad Abdul Qadir and senior officers from the Ministry of Industries and Production and National Fertilizer and Marketing Limited (NFML) along with all concerned.

Article source: https://www.nation.com.pk/27-Sep-2022/senate-body-concerned-over-rising-vehicles-prices-in-country