Infrastructure development: Encouraging private sector govt’s priority, says Asad Umar

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development & Reform, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that encouraging the private sector to come forward and participate in infrastructure development is a priority of the PTI government.

The minister was chairing 3rd Board of Directors of the Public Private Partnership Authority (PPPA) meeting, here Wednesday. Deputy Chairman Planning Commission, Country Director ADB and other members of the Board participated the meeting, which reviewed various proposals relating to the formulation of rules, under the PPP Authority Act. The minister emphasised the importance of early finalisation of PPPA rules to fully utilise the Authority's potential.

The National Highway Authority team briefed the Board on the commercial feasibility of Sukkur-Hyderabad Motorway (M-6) project. The Board directed NHA to expeditiously complete the remaining work on the feasibility, to enable early launch of the project.

The minister directed the management of the Authority to expedite work on the other projects in the pipeline. He said that public private partnership had a lot of potential, which needs to be fully utilised. While the government wants the private sector to participate and invest in infrastructure projects, it would be willing to fill the financing gaps wherever feasible, he said.