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Wednesday January 29, 2025

Completion of key public interest projects: Minister chairs review meeting with P3A to evaluate progress on PM’s 13 directives

Ahsan directs Aviation Ministry to expedite outsourcing process for Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports

By Our Correspondent
December 06, 2024
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal presiding a meeting in Islamabad on July 3, 2024. —Facebook@ahsaniqbal.pk
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal presiding a meeting in Islamabad on July 3, 2024. —Facebook@ahsaniqbal.pk

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal chaired a review meeting with the Public-Private Partnership Authority (P3A) to evaluate progress on 13 directives issued by the prime minister for the completion of key public interest projects.

Representatives from various ministries presented updates on the status of each project. The minister directed the Aviation Ministry to expedite the outsourcing process for Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi airports. The joint secretary of Aviation informed the meeting that the Technical Evaluation Committee of the Pakistan Airports Authority is currently evaluating bids for Islamabad airport, while due diligence reports for Lahore and Karachi airports have been submitted to P3A.

It was further noted that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), following the prime minister’s directive, had halted expansion work at Lahore airport and was in discussions with a UAE-based company, with a meeting scheduled soon.

Regarding the construction of a state-of-the-art slaughterhouse by the Capital Development Authority (CDA), the minister was briefed by relevant officials that the technical feasibility study had been completed and the bid opening for selecting a transaction advisor is planned for next week. The minister urged the ministry to complete all procedural formalities promptly to ensure timely construction of the slaughterhouse.

The minister also instructed the secretary of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to prepare a focused agenda to review the timelines of Rs29 billion worth of projects signed with investment-friendly countries like Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, and Azerbaijan. He emphasized, “Foreign investment can be efficiently harnessed by developing bankable commercial propositions targeted at export expansion, which will significantly benefit Pakistan. The strategic mission of SIFC must be achieved in its true spirit.”

Discussions also focused on reducing the cargo load at Karachi Port through the development of a new freight corridor. The minister directed the Ministry of Maritime Affairs to convene a meeting with Karachi Port Trust officials. Highlighting the challenges faced, he said, “The port currently operates on a limited seven-hour window for cargo movement, forcing trucks to follow specific timings. In the absence of alternate modes such as rail cargo, the development of a new freight corridor is critical.”

He also tasked P3A with organizing a joint meeting with the ministries of Commerce and Railways to align efforts with Karachi Port Trust officials.

The Ministry of Food Security was instructed to expedite the development of food storage facilities in Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur, a project to be executed by the Punjab government. Ministry officials reported that visits to both locations revealed non-functional facilities. The minister stressed, “Globally, food market prices are determined by stable supply. In Pakistan, however, sudden shocks and disruptions in daily food prices are common. These storage facilities must ensure market stability for consumers.”

The CDA also briefed the minister about ongoing efforts with P3A to resolve issues hindering the development of hotels in Islamabad. The minister directed the CDA to expedite the auctioning of land leases for hotel construction.

To streamline inter-ministerial coordination and ensure timely implementation of projects, the minister directed the formation of a dedicated committee tasked with developing actionable timelines for the pipeline of projects under P3A.

Among the P3A projects discussed, three were highlighted as critical for the livelihood and economic development of Balochistan: the N25 Highway, the M8 Motorway, and the DI Khan-Zhob-Quetta Road.

The meeting underscored the government’s commitment to accelerating infrastructure and public service development through collaborative efforts with P3A.

Meanwhile, Ahsan Iqbal chaired a meeting to review the ICT Governance Reforms Committee, established by the prime minister. The meeting was attended by Federal Minister for Inter-Provincial Coordination Rana Sanaullah, Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, Barrister Zafarullah Khan, MNA Anjum Aqeel, MNA Raja Khurram Nawaz, MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Secretary Planning Awais Manzoor Sumra, Secretary Cabinet Kamran Ali, and senior officials from the CDA, Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) and the Ministry of Planning.

The participants deliberated on governance models from the capitals of democratic countries and reviewed challenges faced by Islamabad’s governance system. CDA officials highlighted that the lack of revision in the master plan has resulted in numerous problems requiring immediate resolution.

Ahsan Iqbal emphasized the urgency of equipping Islamabad with a modern and accountable governance system. He stressed the need to integrate the administrative structures of urban and rural areas while ensuring a clear division of administrative and developmental responsibilities under the ICT governance framework. The minister also called for a delineation of roles and responsibilities among the CDA, MCI, and elected representatives to address the issue of limited powers.

The meeting also discussed the eradication of illegal housing societies. Barrister Zafarullah Khan pointed out that much of Barakahu comprises unauthorized constructions, requiring prompt corrective actions. MNA Tariq Fazal Chaudhry observed that while laws are in place, their lack of implementation is creating hurdles.

Ahsan Iqbal directed the formation of a subcommittee comprising representatives from the MCI, CDA, and elected officials. This committee is tasked with presenting its recommendations within five days. Additionally, it will examine Islamabad’s local government structure and address issues related to health and educational institutions.

The meeting concluded with unanimous agreement among participants that establishing a world-class municipal framework for Islamabad is a pressing need. They resolved to take all necessary steps promptly to achieve this goal.