To expedite projects on Public Private Partnership (PPP) basis, the government will be introducing the Federal Private Public Partnerships law to establish function of the federal government and responsibilities of the implementing agencies.
This information was provided at a meeting chaired by the Minister for Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, on the projects in the pipeline under PPP policy being pursued by Infrastructure Project Development facility (IDPF).
The law would provide legal protection to all stakeholders, and develop clear legal framework for private sector involvement in PPP projects consistent, with existing national and international regulatory projects. Sindh has already enacted PPP law and Punjab has also passed it under the realm of planning and development. The minister stressed to enhance the institutional arrangements in the realm of PPP collaboration, and develop spontaneous and long-lasting relationship with all the line ministries and departments involved in the development of physical infra-structure in the country. He also instructed IPDF to develop close collaboration with the Planning Commission for the identification of the projects to be undertaken for infrastructure development and devise preliminary business plan for future programme.
The meeting was informed that the projects under IPDF and PPP include in total Rs335 billion projects, including M-9 Karachi Hyderabad, NHA Habibabad flyover, railways track access, Karachi circular railway, 500 MW lower spat gah hydropower project, revival of Sindh engineering, Karachi CNG bus, PHDEC-NTC cool chain, CAA fuel farm and hydrant refueling, PIMS dentistry and liver transplant, Comsats student’s hostel, Lahore Southern bypass, energy efficient street lights for Islamabad and Faisalabad solid waste management, and integrated slaughter house and hit prime movers manufacturing. Most of the project’s financial and commercial feasibility was completed, IPDF told.
The meeting was briefed in detail of the project pipeline development which centered on proactive marketing to agencies, organisations and institutions responsible for developing infrastructure projects at all level and projects identified by relevant agencies, organisations and institutions. The presentation also contained some snapshots of future projects which are NHA – Multan Northern bypass, NHA – construction of link road Tarnol to new Benazir Bhutto International Airport, small hydel projects, railways station development for Pakistan Railways, widening of Islamabad highway, widening of IJP road, bus rapid transit system MRT for twin cities, Islamabad airport cargo village and Commercial Development and Theme parks (PBIT). The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Secretary Finance, Secretary Railways, former Governor State Bank, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, Chief Executive of IPDF and other senior officials.
