Asad, Zubair exchange words over steel mills privatisation
Asad Umar says Pakistan Steel Mills cannot be leased out with lease structure being kept secret
ISLAMABAD: (Dunya News) – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar and his brother Zubair Umar, Privatisation Commission Chairman, exchanged harsh words over the privatisation of Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM). Asad said that PSM could not be leased out when the lease infrastructure was kept secret, reported Dunya News.
Government member Qaiser Sheikh also expressed disagreement on the privatisation decision. Muhammad Zubair revealed in the committee meeting that the government had decided to lease out PSM and approval will be given on January 20. However, Asad Umar was livid over the fact that the lease infrastructure wasn’t revealed.
Zubair Umer said that the Chinese companies were not interested in buying the steel mills and the 14,000 acres of unutilised land of PSM could not be sold without Sindh government’s approval. When asked about the lease infrastructure, Zubair Umer said that he could not reveal it, infuriating Asad Umar.
Treasury member Qaiser Sheikh also disapproved of leasing out PSM. Asad Umar said that PSM could not work for even six months despite spending two billion rupees and now it was not working for the last year and a half.
