PM Shehbaz Orders Fast-Tracked Privatisation of State-Owned Enterprises

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed relevant authorities to secure the most favorable deals for the privatisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), emphasizing that the process must strictly serve the national interest and be free from bureaucratic delays.

Chairing a high-level review meeting on Thursday, the prime minister directed officials to accelerate ongoing efforts and ensure transparency, efficiency, and fairness in all transactions. He also ordered the inclusion of internationally recognized experts to oversee and advise on key stages of the privatisation process.

Prime Minister Shehbaz made it clear that any form of red tape or administrative hurdles would not be tolerated. He announced that he would personally monitor the process, with regular progress review meetings to be conducted at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The meeting reviewed the current status of 15 out of 24 SOEs that are part of the privatisation plan. The prime minister urged officials to prioritize loss-making and inefficient enterprises that continue to drain public finances, noting that their swift privatisation was essential to ease the burden on the national exchequer.

“The process must be transparent, time-bound, and focused on economic recovery,” he said, stressing that privatisation should strengthen the performance of key sectors while attracting both domestic and foreign investment.

The prime minister also instructed the relevant ministries to prepare a comprehensive capacity-building strategy for the SOEs that are being restructured or evaluated for sale.

The meeting was attended by Federal Ministers Ahad Khan Cheema and Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kiyani, and senior officials from the Privatisation Commission and Finance Division.

Government sources confirmed that privatisation efforts will initially target sectors such as energy, aviation, and banking, with multiple transactions expected to be finalized in the coming fiscal year.

Prime Minister Shehbaz reaffirmed his government’s commitment to reform state institutions, attract strategic investors, and create a more competitive economic environment.