ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that government would privatise all state-owned enterprises excluding strategic ones, regardless of their profitability or financial losses. Chairing meeting to review matters related to Ministry of Privatisation and Privatisation Commission, he directed all ministries to carry out necessary procedures and extend their cooperation with Privatisation Commission for purpose.

In meeting, Privatisation Ministry and Privatisation Commission presented roadmap for Privatisation Programme 2024-29. He said government had nothing to do with running businesses but was mandated to facilitate investors. He viewed that privatisation of SOEs would save taxpayers’ money to help government provide quality services to people.

Reiterating government’s commitment to transparent process, he directed to live telecast bidding and other procedures of privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines and other entities. During briefing on progress in SOEs’ privatisation, participants were told that pre-qualification process for PIA privatisation would be completed by end of this month. 

Participants were told that pre-qualified panel of experts would be appointed at Planning Commission for swift and transparent privatisation process. Ministers Khawaja Asif, Muhammad Aurangzeb, Jam Kamal Khan, Awais Ahmed Leghari, Abdul Aleem Khan, Dr Musaddik Malik and Ahad Khan Cheema, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ehsan Afzal, and relevant senior officers attended meeting.