Imran vows proper use of non-utilised govt propertiesAg Agencies

 
December 05, 2019

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday warned of strict action against any official found involved in creating hurdles in the proper identification of non-utilised government-owned properties, as the government plans marketing for such properties at Dubai Expo to attract overseas Pakistanis and other investors towards such precious assets.

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The Prime Minister, chairing a meeting over proper utilisation of properties owned by different ministries and federal departments, was apprised of the progress made over proper utilisation of such properties and their possible privatisation. The meeting was informed different ministries had so far identified 32 such properties.

The Prime Minister said in the past, non-utilisation of government’s assets in an effective manner had manifested criminal negligence, the PM Office media wing said in a press release. Khan directed asset management committee, relevant federal ministries and provincial governments to resolve all matters pertaining to the identified properties within a week, so that decision over their proper utilisation could be implemented.

Secretary Privatisation Rizwan Malik apprised the meeting of the progress made over proper utilisation of properties owned by different ministries and federal government’s departments and their possible privatisation. He said under the decisions of the federal cabinet, during the months of February to March, every ministry was tasked to identify at least three such properties. In the first phase, different ministries had identified 32 such properties so far.

The secretary further said services of a financial adviser were hired during the month of October for making assessment value of those properties, and giving final shape to the future mechanism in that regard. He said marketing for those properties would be held in Dubai Expo to attract overseas Pakistanis and other investors towards such precious assets.

The Prime Minister said proper utilisation of those properties and lands worth billions of rupees which had been kept unused for years and spending of income generated from their use upon the public welfare and provision of basic facilities like schools, colleges and hospitals, were the significant parts of the incumbent government’s policy. He observed different federal departments and institutions had been running into annual losses despite having such precious assets.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Maritime Affairs Ali Haider Zaidi, Minister for Privatisation Mohammad Mian Soomro, Special Assistant on Overseas Pakistanis Syed Zulfiqar Abbas Bukhari, Special Assistant on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, spokesperson for PM Nadeem Afzal Chan, federal secretaries and federal and provincial senior officials.—Agencies

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