Balochistan Public-Private Partnership Policy launched

There is immense potential for economic, socio-economic development in Balochistan, says provincial minister

QUETTA:

Balochistan government for the first time in the history of the province launched a Public-Private Partnership Policy (PPPP) to ensure the participation of private sector in the development of the province.

Addressing the launching ceremony, Balochistan Provincial Minister for Planning and Development Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi said that there is immense potential for economic, socio-economic development in Balochistan.

He said that the government of Balochistan is committed to utilize all available resources in this regard and move the province on the path of sustainable development while the private sector has an important role to play to this end.

“In particular, it will always help in the overall improvement and promotion of other sectors, including the provision of public infrastructure and facilities,” he said.

Chief Secretary Balochistan Matahar Niaz Rana, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Hafiz Abdul Basit, Head Governance Policy Project Rashid Razzaq, Secretary Planning and Development Khalid Sarpra, Managing Director Public Private Partnership Unit Dr Noor Muhammad, Director SPRC Rafiullah Kakar, Financial Advisor, PRC Faraz A. Syed, Quetta Chamber of Commerce, businessmen, concerned officials including provincial secretaries, media members and others participated.

Mir Zahoor Ahmed Buledi, Chief Secretary Balochistan Matahar Niaz Rana, Additional Chief Secretary Planning and Development Hafiz Abdul Basit Rafiullah Kakar of Strategic Planning and Reforms Cell (SPRC) and Planning and Development Department appreciated the initiatives of the relevant team, and said that this policy would be helpful in advancing the partnership of the government of Balochistan and all its stakeholders in which the government would establish mutual partnership with the private sector on a sustainable basis and promote it in near future.

“It will expand reforms and initiatives in the necessary and important sectors to provide, and new resources will emerge in a coordinated manner in investment and development, including employment and infrastructure in the province. Addressing the function, the speakers outlined the significance of this important policy and said that the preparation and technical support for the Public-Private Partnership Policy.

Framework was led by the Planning and Development Department, which included the Strategic Planning and Reforms Cell (SPRC).

The policy was funded by the Multi Donor Trust Fund (MDTF), administered by the World Bank and implemented through the Governance and Policy Project.

He added that the new GPP framework includes providing administrative, financial and all kinds of assistance to private parties for the implementation of GPP mode project in the province. He said that establishment of 'Gap Fund', right to use government land or infrastructure, expeditious provision of utilities, exemption from provincial taxes and provision of provincial guarantees in case of large scale projects are part of the policy.

At the end of the event, experts and investors from the private sector shared their suggestions and views and termed this policy as a milestone by the government of Balochistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2021.