14 projects worth Rs 978 billion to be approved in three months: Briefing to PM
By Wasif Ali Khan
ISLAMABAD : Prime Minister Imran Khan was informed during the briefing that 14 projects worth Rs 978 billion. In the next three months, 18 projects worth Rs 1,016 billion will be awarded in the financial year 2021-22.
He expressed these views in a meeting chaired by him regarding various development projects under the Public Sector Development Program, especially various projects that have been completed so far with the participation of the private sector, projects under construction in various sectors and projects to be completed soon. What happened on the occasion of the briefing given?
The meeting was attended by Planning Minister Asad Umar, Finance Minister Shaukat Tareen, secretaries of relevant ministries and senior officials. Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Bazdar and Provincial Finance Minister Hashim Jawan Bakht and provincial officials attended the meeting through video link.
According to the Prime Minister’s vision, regarding the involvement of the private sector in the development process, it was informed that work on about fifty projects under the public-private partnership model is at various stages, with a total value of about Rs 2,000 billion. About 35 are close to approval.
The meeting was informed that 14 projects worth Rs 978 billion would be approved in the next three months while 18 projects worth Rs 1,016 billion would be awarded in the financial year 2021-22.
The meeting was informed that the Public Private Partnership Authority has approved two major projects namely Sialkot Kharian Motorway Project and Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway Project with a total value of Rs. 233 billion. Tender for Sialkot-Kharian Motorway project has been issued while tender for Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway project will be issued in June.
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The meeting was informed that six more projects worth Rs. 710 billion would be approved by August 2021. These projects under the public-private partnership model include projects related to the fields of communication, health, science and technology, social sector and others.
The meeting was briefed on the progress of PSDP Plus and future government practices under this model. The PSDP Plus strategy provides a conducive environment and other necessary support to ensure private sector involvement in the development process.
The meeting was informed that 180 measures have been identified under PSDP Plus with a total value of Rs. 5.5 trillion.
Addressing the meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that full participation of the private sector in the development process was a matter of urgency in view of the needs of the people. The government is fully committed to fully involving the private sector in the development process and providing them with a conducive environment. The Board of Investment is being mobilized to facilitate investors abroad and at home. The Prime Minister directed the Provincial Governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to report on the progress of implementation of federal and provincial development projects, future development projects as well as distribution of development projects at regional level and all progress made on them so far.
