Islamabad, July 23, 2025: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday directed the authorities to ensure full legal autonomy for the Privatization Commission to eliminate bureaucratic hurdles and streamline the denationalization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Chairing a high-level review meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office on the ongoing privatization process, the premier emphasized that divesting loss-making national enterprises was critical to revitalizing Pakistan’s economy. He said that effective, transparent, and well-planned privatization remained a top government priority.
“The privatization process must be carried out comprehensively, in line with legal and transparency requirements,” the prime minister said, according to an official press release. “Illegal occupation of valuable land belonging to national institutions will not be tolerated under any circumstances. However, extreme caution must be exercised in the disposal of such assets during privatization.”
PM Shehbaz also called for setting phased privatization targets in alignment with prevailing market conditions to safeguard the national exchequer from potential losses. “All decisions must be fully and effectively implemented. I will personally monitor the progress of the Privatization Commission’s work,” he added.
He further directed that consultations with professional experts and adherence to international standards should be ensured during the privatization and institutional restructuring process.
The prime minister was briefed on the progress of the SOEs listed for privatization in 2024. Commission officials outlined that a phased approach was being adopted, taking into account legal, financial, and sector-specific considerations. They assured that the program would be completed within the cabinet-approved timeline.
Key enterprises on the privatization list include Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and several power distribution companies (DISCOs), with the aim to meet defined economic, institutional, and administrative targets.
Federal Ministers Sardar Owais Khan Leghari, Ahad Khan Cheema, Chairman Privatization Commission Muhammad Ali, Minister of State for Finance and Railways Bilal Azhar Kayani, and other senior officials attended the meeting.
