PPP board to take up Rs21b projects for approval next week

Schemes include construction of Lahore Ring Road (Southern Loop-III) at cost of Rs10b

LAHORE: The Punjab government has managed to establish the Punjab Public Private Partnership (PPP) Authority under the recently introduced PPP Ordinance 2019.

Under the ordinance, the government has drawn up a PPP policy and set up a monitoring board, the first meeting of which is scheduled to be held on Monday next week with Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar in the chair.

Six proposals worth Rs21 billion will be presented to the board which, after approval, will be advertised for inviting bidders.

"These six projects are ready to be executed," said PPP Authority acting Chief Executive Officer Dr Farrukh Naveed while talking to The Express Tribune. "Apart from the six schemes, we are working on 55 other projects, which will largely cover social and infrastructure development in south Punjab."

Punjab takes measures to boost private sector participation

Projects under the six schemes include construction of the Lahore Ring Road (Southern Loop-III) at an estimated cost of Rs10 billion.

On the other hand, the 55 projects include establishment of the Weaving City in Faisalabad, installation and maintenance of water meters in Lahore and establishment of a combined effluent treatment plant (CETP) at the Quaid-e-Azam Industrial Estate.

The board consists of 19 members chosen from among public and private-sector experts along with political leaders of the province. Provincial Finance Minister Makhdoom Hashim Jawan Bakht has stressed the need for involving the private sector in social and infrastructure projects, especially in south Punjab. However, whether the private sector has the same interest in participating and executing approved projects is yet to be seen.

Punjab seeks to attract private sector investment

Naveed, who is also the board CEO, said that the authority would act as a one-stop shop for the investors willing to invest in public-sector development schemes.

"We have extended the ease of doing business facility to interested parties under the authority," he said. "The PPP wing will be responsible for acquiring all necessary approvals from government offices on behalf of private parties, which will speed up execution of projects."

He added that the government aimed to create a win-win situation for both parties through the initiative. "Under this authority, the capacity of entire government machinery will be upgraded in terms of executing projects as per international norms," he emphasised. "Apart from this, the private sector will also get an opportunity to enhance its competence."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 2^nd, 2019.

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