ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has initiated a program to bring itself out of the business of running businesses and privatize around 24 State Owned Entities in coming years.
Addressing the National Assembly during the Question Hour, Minister for Privatization Abdul Aleem Khan said that among the entities planned for privatization are Pakistan International Airlines, Roosevelt Hotel, First Women Bank, Utility Stores Corporation, and various power distribution companies.
Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik, addressing another query, highlighted efforts to curb the smuggling of iron and steel items.
He stated that all field enforcement units have been briefed to tackle this issue, leading to the seizure of over 785,028 kilograms of steel products in the current fiscal year.
Furthermore, he noted that all consignments are meticulously weighed twice to detect misdeclaration or under-weighment.
Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari emphasized the importance of addressing line losses and electricity theft to ensure uninterrupted power supply.
He stressed that Pakistan cannot afford the staggering 700 billion rupees loss in the power sector, underscoring the need for improved performance of power distribution companies. Leghari called for collective responsibility, transcending political affiliations, to combat power theft, urging provincial governments to collaborate in this endeavor.
In response to a Calling Attention motion raised by Shehla Raza and others, Minister for Water Resources Musadik Masood Malik said that there is no water shortage in the country.
He reassured the House that every province receives its designated share of water as per the Indus River System Authority’s decisions. Malik affirmed the authority’s autonomy in water distribution matters and highlighted each province’s representation within IRSA.
Regarding another query, the Minister clarified that provinces have the authority to divert water to link canals from their allocated share and not from the share of other provinces.
