Sindh Assembly Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Nisar Khuhro has called for a formal audit of the Sindh Employees Social Security Institution (SESSI), highlighting that the institution has never been audited since its establishment. Khuhro questioned SESSI’s refusal to undergo the audit, stressing that no organization is above the constitution.
Speaking at a ceremony marking Shaheed Benazir Bhutto’s 72nd birth anniversary at SESSI headquarters, Khuhro pointed out that medical supplies worth Rs8 billion have not been audited. He urged authorities to investigate how these funds are used and whether hospital equipment is functioning properly.
SESSI revealed that out of its Rs13 billion budget, 70 percent is spent on healthcare services and medicines, while the remaining 30 percent covers the institution’s directorate costs. Khuhro recommended that the Labour Department focus on ensuring medicines are available to workers through SESSI hospitals.
Khuhro also raised concerns about worker registration, stating that only 240,000 out of 670,000 industrial units are registered with SESSI. He said the actual number of workers is around six million, highlighting the need to register more workers, including those in shops, to improve welfare coverage.
Additionally, Khuhro criticized the poor enforcement of the minimum wage policy. He noted that the current Rs37,000 minimum wage for private sector workers is not fully implemented, questioning how a higher wage of Rs42,000 can be expected without proper enforcement. He urged the Labour Department to ensure that the Sindh government’s minimum wage policy is applied across both public and private sectors.
Overall, Khuhro’s statements emphasize the urgent need for transparency, accountability, and expanded worker protections within Sindh’s social security system.