The government is planning marketing for unutilized properties of ministries and divisions, which have been identified for privatization, at the Dubai Expo to attract overseas Pakistanis and other investors.
Prime Minister Imran Khan further warned of strict action against any official found involved in creating hurdles in the proper identification of non-utilised government-owned properties.
A meeting was held to review the progress of the properties identified for privatization by ministries and divisions, subsequent to the cabinet’s decision, in the chair of the Prime Minister.
Secretary Privatisation Rizwan Malik informed the meeting that after the cabinet’s decision, every ministry was tasked to identify at least three properties that are unutilized and 32 such properties have been identified. He also informed the meeting that for value assessment of these properties and finalization of future strategy, a financial adviser was hired in October 2019.
The Prime Minister directed asset management committee, relevant federal ministries, and provincial governments to resolve all matters pertaining to the identified properties within a week so that the decision about their proper utilization could be implemented. He said marketing for those properties would be held in Dubai Expo to attract overseas Pakistanis and other investors towards such precious assets.
The Prime Minister directed for proper utilization of these properties and pieces of land worth billions of rupees, which have been kept unused for years. He further stated that the income generated from these properties will be spent on public welfare and provision of basic facilities like schools, colleges and hospitals, adding these are significant parts of the incumbent government’s policy.
He observed that different federal departments and institutions had been running into annual losses despite having such precious assets.
The meeting was attended by Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Privatization Mohammad Mian Soomro, Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, spokesperson for Prime Minister Nadeem Afzal Chan, federal secretaries and federal and provincial senior officials.
Why not give these properties to Pakistani startups and establish Industrial and green parks on them on lease?. What is the purpose of selling them to foreign individuals and companies to cover your expenses?.
This decision is the worst decision of all times. This government will sell all the assets and the next governments will have no assets. These properties are there for a reason. PTI don’t own them. These properties belong to the “People of Pakistan”. The government offices and infrastructure has to expand on these properties, otherwise government has to buy these properties from 3rd properties in the future.