Bilawal stresses need for operating PIA, Railways under PPP mode

Bilawal stresses need for operating PIA, Railways under PPP mode

Karachi: Bilawal has reiterated the Pakistan Peoples Party’s longstanding stance on the privatisation of the SOEs like the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

Addressing a function organised by the Peoples Labour Bureau (PLB) at the Karachi Arts Council on the occasion of International Labour Day, PPP Chairman stressed the need for operating the loss-making units under the PPP mode.

PPP chairman, a press release issued by the Media Cell Bilawal House, reaffirmed the PPP’s philosophy that the “workers receive” their rightful dues. He cited the examples of successful PPP-mode projects in Sindh. He suggested that the government should sell some shares of those projects and engage the private sector in order to foster their development, thereby benefiting Pakistan and its economy.

Bilawal highlighted the success of the Thar Coal Project which was completed by the Sindh government under the PPP mode”. Noting the current finance minister’s favourable view of Sindh’s PPP model, he said he intended to persuade the federal government to adopt the PPP mode instead of privatisation.

About the PSM, Bilawal said that the land of the mega industrial project belonged to the Sindh government, therefore, any decisions regarding its future should involve Sindh’s consent, suggesting collaborative discussions between the federal and provincial governments.

He proposed that if the federal government intended to divest the Steel Mills, Sindh should have the opportunity to acquire and operate it more efficiently under the PPP-mode, ensuring the welfare of its workers.