Sell-off of govt properties: Investors to be attracted thru marketing, PM told

Prime Minister Imran Khan has been informed that marketing of the properties of ministries and divisions identified for privatisation would be done at 'Dubai Expo' to attract overseas Pakistanis and investors.

A meeting was held to review progress of the properties identified for privatisation by ministries and divisions, subsequent to the cabinet's decision, in the chair of the Prime Minister on Wednesday.

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.

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, and said income generated from these properties would 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.

Those who attended the meeting included 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.