PM for utilization of unused public lands to curtail fiscal deficit

ISLAMABAD, Apr 3 (APP):Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday called for utilization of thousands of acres of unused public lands as it would not only help curtail the country’s fiscal deficit but also boost the development process.

He was chairing a meeting to review the progress on privatization process of the government properties and assets.

Minister for Finance Asad Umar, Minister for Information Chaudhry Fawad Hussain, Minister for Privatization Muhammadmian Soomro, Spokesman to PM Nadeem Afzal Chan, Secretary Privatization, Secretary Petroleum, Capital Development Authority Chairman and senior officials attended the meeting.

The Secretary Privatization briefed the meeting about the progress on the privatization of various government assets, including Haveli Bahadur Shah and Balloki Power Plants, SME Bank, Jinnah Convention Center, government stake in Mari Petroleum and Lakhra Coalmine.

The Prime Minister said action would be taken against the government officials involved in the concealment of information about public assets.

He said the previous governments pushed the country into debt trap. The non-use of non-profit and unutilized public properties in a country, which had to pay around Rs 7 billion per day in debt-servicing alone, was not understandable.

The Prime Minister said the government’s permission for the construction of multi-storey buildings across the country would not only help check the housing problem in the country but would also facilitate the investors who needed appropriate buildings for fulfilling their business and other requirements.

He directed the authorities concerned for early finalization of the rules and regulations regarding the construction of multi-storey buildings.