Selling non-profit entities in national interest, says Prime Minister Imran

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday urged his ministers to speed up the privatization process and achieve it with better inter-ministerial cooperation, reported The News. 

According to the report, in a meeting presided over by the prime minister, it was told to ministers that selling entities, state institutions and assets which were not making profit was in the national interest. The premier was briefed about the privatization process and updates regarding it.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, Minister for Privatisation Muhammad Mian Soomro, Adviser to PM on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh, Adviser to PM on Trade and Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood, Special Assistant to PM on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and Adviser to PM on Reforms Dr Ishrat Hussain.

The meeting was informed that during the current year, seven institutions and properties would be privatised and these included two RLNG power plants, SME Bank, Services International Hotel, Jinnah Convention Centre, Islamabad and 27 other state-owned properties.

The prime minister said that Pakistan was on the path to economic development and prosperity. He said that the current account deficit had decreased and exports were rising along with the sale of cement.