Senate Panel Alarmed by Steel Mills’ Land Grab

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A Senate committee has sounded the alarm over controversial land allotments involving Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM) property, demanding immediate intervention from the Council of Common Interests (CCI). The Standing Committee on Industries and Production expressed grave concerns about the Sindh government reportedly transferring PSM land to neighboring villages, despite clear legal ownership by the state-run enterprise. This development threatens to further complicate the already troubled future of Pakistan’s largest industrial complex.

During tense committee proceedings, lawmakers questioned the legality of these land transfers, emphasizing that PSM’s property rights remain indisputable under existing laws. The panel warned that such arbitrary allocations could sabotage potential revival plans for the defunct steel plant, which has been non-operational since 2015. Officials stressed the need for urgent CCI involvement to prevent permanent loss of strategic industrial assets worth billions.

The controversy highlights deeper governance challenges surrounding PSM’s dormant 18,600-acre facility near Karachi. While successive governments have failed to restart operations or secure private investment, the land itself represents valuable collateral that could facilitate the mill’s rehabilitation. Experts argue that unauthorized settlements and land grabs only diminish the property’s value and attractiveness to potential investors.

This land dispute presents a critical test for Pakistan’s commitment to industrial revitalization. As the Senate committee pushes for decisive action, all stakeholders must recognize that preserving PSM’s assets represents the first step toward any meaningful recovery plan. The government faces a clear choice: protect this national industrial treasure or watch its components disappear through bureaucratic neglect and questionable land deals. The coming weeks will reveal whether Pakistan’s leadership can muster the political will to safeguard this vital economic asset.