ISLAMABAD: The Government today reaffirmed its commitment to increasing private sector participation in Pakistan’s economy through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and privatisation, pursuing both as key instruments of economic growth and transformation.
According to Privatisation Commission, the commitment was reiterated at the National Strategic Dialogue on PPPs and Privatisation and Launch of the Pakistan PPP Monitor, held in Islamabad with the participation of Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, ADB Vice President Yingming Yang, senior federal and provincial officials, development partners, financial institutions, and representatives of the private sector and investment community.
The Government also expressed its appreciation to the Asian Development Bank for its longstanding partnership with Pakistan and for its continued support in strengthening the country’s PPP framework. The launch of the Pakistan PPP Monitor was welcomed as an important contribution to improving visibility of Pakistan’s PPP track record and pipeline for investors and other stakeholders.
Speaking at the event, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb highlighted the Government’s focus on creating an environment that supports private investment, encourages business activity, and enables greater private sector participation in economic development. The Finance Minister emphasized the need for private sector leadership in Pakistan’s next phase of growth, stating that PPPs and privatisation can facilitate investment, improve efficiency, and create greater space for private sector participation.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali underscored that Pakistan’s future infrastructure and development needs cannot be met by public spending alone and that the private sector must play a much larger role in financing, building, and managing infrastructure and economic assets. He stressed the complementary nature of PPPs and privatisation, highlighting their roles in bringing private capital, management, technology, and accountability into areas where the public sector cannot operate alone.
ADB Vice President Yingming Yang welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to enhance private sector participation and expressed ADB’s commitment to continue cooperation in promoting large-scale private sector involvement. He highlighted the importance of well-structured PPPs in complementing constrained public resources and improving services for citizens.
Pakistan has an established track record in PPPs, with the Pakistan PPP Monitor reporting 154 projects reaching financial close since the 1990s, representing investments of close to US$36 billion. The current federal PPP pipeline includes 38 projects with an estimated value of approximately US$6.5 billion, covering sectors like roads, railways, aviation, healthcare, and industrial infrastructure.
The Government is advancing a 27-transaction privatisation program, including power distribution companies, major airports, insurance companies, and specialised banks. Recent progress, such as the privatisation of PIA with management control, reflects the Government’s ongoing commitment to increasing private sector participation.
The dialogue also emphasized the importance of federal and provincial cooperation in expanding PPP opportunities and private investment across the country. The Government reiterated its focus on moving opportunities towards successful transactions, expanding private sector participation, and supporting sustained investment-led growth through PPPs and privatisation.
The National Strategic Dialogue and launch of the Pakistan PPP Monitor underline Pakistan’s commitment to PPPs and privatisation as practical tools for mobilising private capital, improving efficiency, and supporting the country’s future economic and infrastructure needs.