KARACHI: The Sindh Small Industries Corporation has finally rolled back its earlier plan to terminate at least 374 employees allegedly appointed on political grounds, not fulfilling the codal formalities, Daily Times has learnt. Earlier, the corporation, which works under the administrative control of industries and commerce department of the Sindh government, had also prepared a summary recommending termination of the services of those appointed on political basis. However, the Commerce and Industries Minister Mohammad Ali Malkani set aside the summary, sources said. According to sources, “It is submitted that the corporation is facing acute financial crisis even unable to disburse monthly salaries, pensions and service dues to its existing and retired employees, causing over employment beyond the required strength”. According to official documents, a copy of which is exclusively available with Daily Times, a meeting under the chairmanship of honorable minister for industries and commerce/SSIC chairman was held on April 28, 2015 and it was decided in the meeting that the corporation may complete the internal audit on priority basis through an internal audit team”. As per official documents, “Accordingly, audit was conducted and the committee suggested that in order to overcome the financial position, the corporation may curtail the expenditure on salary component as the appointments were made from July 1, 2010 onwards are beyond the required strength and without completion of codal formalities and recommended for termination of services of 374 employees which may kindly be perused. Furthermore, the regional directors also recommended for the termination of services of the employees appointed from July 1, 2010 onwards”. The documents further stated that the competent authority ‘MD’ constituted a committee consisting on the officers of BPS-19 to examine the report and findings of internal audit. After going through the report, the committee also recommended for termination of services of the employees appointed illegally from July 1, 2010 onwards. It said that in the 73th meeting of the SSIC Board of Directors held on May 21, 2015, it was unanimously approved that the rightsising in the corporation on the basis of last come first go for surplus pool. According to report of internal audit, the over employment were made illegally and beyond the required strength and without completion of codal formalities. Therefore, in order to save the corporation, the suggestions and findings of the committee may kindly be got approved from the honorable minister for Industries and Commerce, SSIC for the termination of services of the 374 employees appointed from July 1, 2010 onwards except the orders of High Court for 18 employees will remain intact. After passage of more than six months, the minister failed to forward the summary to the Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah for approval. It is believed that the said plan was rolled back following the back door reconciliation between Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and the MQM. Daily Times repeatedly tried to contact Sindh Commerce and Industries Minister Mohammad Ali Malkani to seek his version. However, he didn’t responded.