ISLAMABAD: The Standing Committee on Privatization convened at the Parliament House, chaired by Mr. Muhammad Farooq Sattar, MNA, to deliberate on proposed amendments to the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017. The amendments, which are part of the government’s efforts to streamline decision-making and enhance administrative efficiency, have been recommended for passage by a majority of the Committee members.

According to National Assembly of Pakistan, the amendments aim to replace references to the “Federal Government” in statutes with appropriate competent authorities, thereby reducing the Cabinet’s workload by delegating routine matters. A notable amendment authorizes the Prime Minister to nominate private sector members to the Board, while another clarifies the Finance Division’s oversight of the Risk Management Unit.

The Committee’s recommendation aligns with the government’s policy of delegating powers to focus the Federal Cabinet on strategic policy issues. Despite this, one member emphasized the importance of maintaining the Federal Cabinet’s collective wisdom on issues of significant public concern. Additionally, the meeting included briefings on the performance of the Ministry of Privatisation and the Privatisation Commission during fiscal year 2025-26, as well as updates on outsourcing operations at major airports.

The session was attended by several parliamentarians and senior officials, including the Adviser on Privatisation and Chairman of the Privatisation Commission, and representatives from the Ministries of Privatisation, Law and Justice, and Commerce.