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ISLAMABAD, September 5, 2026: Pakistan is stepping up efforts to attract private investment into infrastructure and state-owned businesses through public-private partnerships (PPPs) and privatisation.
The government sees both programmes as key tools to boost investment, improve efficiency and support economic growth.
The commitment was reaffirmed at the National Strategic Dialogue on PPPs and Privatisation held in Islamabad. The event also marked the launch of the Pakistan PPP Monitor.
Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali, Asian Development Bank (ADB) Vice President Yingming Yang, senior government officials, financial institutions, development partners and private-sector representatives attended the event.
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government wanted to create an environment that encourages private investment and business activity.
“The private sector must lead Pakistan’s next phase of growth,” he said.
Aurangzeb said PPPs and privatisation could bring more investment into the economy while improving efficiency and creating greater space for private businesses.
He said the government was working to develop a pipeline of investment-ready projects and turn them into actual investments.
Adviser to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali said the government could not meet Pakistan’s infrastructure and development needs through public spending alone.
He said the private sector needed to take a larger role in financing, building and managing infrastructure and economic assets.
Ali said PPPs and privatisation were different but complementary tools.
PPPs allow private companies to bring capital and expertise into infrastructure and public services. Privatisation, meanwhile, can bring private ownership or management into commercial state-owned businesses.
He said these steps could help improve efficiency, attract investment and strengthen service delivery.
Ali also highlighted asset monetisation as another way to bring private capital, technology and management expertise into areas where the government has limited capacity.
“We have already started to give the reins of economic growth to the private sector,” Ali said.
He added that the government would continue its privatisation programme, expand the PPP pipeline and focus on completing projects.
ADB Vice President Yingming Yang welcomed Pakistan’s efforts to increase private-sector participation.
“Mobilizing private capital and expertise is essential,” Yang said.
He said well-structured PPPs could help Pakistan make better use of limited public funds. They could also improve efficiency, maintenance and public services.
Yang also welcomed the Pakistan PPP Monitor, saying it would give investors better information about completed PPP projects and upcoming opportunities.
According to the monitor, 154 PPP projects have reached financial close in Pakistan since the 1990s, representing investment of nearly $36 billion.
The current federal PPP pipeline includes 38 projects worth around $6.5 billion.
The projects cover sectors including roads, railways, aviation, healthcare and industrial infrastructure.
The government is also pursuing a 27-transaction privatisation programme.
The programme includes power distribution companies, major airports, insurance companies and specialised banks.
The government highlighted recent progress, including the privatisation of PIA with management control, along with ongoing work on power distribution companies and airport concessions.
Privatisation Commission Secretary Usman Bajwa said the government would maintain momentum on both the PPP and privatisation programmes.
He said the focus would be on maintaining a clear project pipeline, improving coordination, ensuring transparency and providing investors with a predictable process.
The government said Pakistan now has an established PPP framework, a strong track record and a growing pipeline of investment opportunities.
The next challenge is to turn these projects into completed transactions and attract the private capital needed to support investment-led economic growth.
