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ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed that the privatisation of power distribution companies (DISCOs) be “accelerated”, reiterating that offloading loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs) was a priority for the government. In a handout, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said PM Shehbaz had presided over a high-level review meeting in Islamabad earlier in the day. “The prime minister instructed officials to ensure complete transparency throughout the privatisation process and establish a robust regulatory framework immediately following the transition of the Discos to the private sector,” the handout said. During the briefing, the meeting was informed that Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO), Gujranwala Electric Power Company (GEPCO) and Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (FESCO) would be privatised in the first phase. Expressions of interest (EOIs) for the process had already been published in national and international newspapers, it added. “The meeting was further informed that the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation had approved the transaction structure for the privatisation of the three DISCOs,” the handout said, adding that international roadshows were scheduled to begin this month to attract investors from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and China. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Azam Nazeer Tarar, Ahad Khan Cheema, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Sardar Awais Leghari, Privatisation Adviser Muhammad Ali, Minister of State Bilal Azhar Kayani, and relevant government officials attended the meeting. Global Fund appeciates govt’s step in eliminating TB, HIV/AIDS Later in the day, PM Shehbaz acknowledged the Global Fund as a key partner of Pakistan in improving its healthcare system and appreciated its role in strengthening public health in the developing world. According to a handout, the prime minister met a Global Fund delegation in Islamabad led by Mark Edington of the Global Fund’s Grant Management Division, along with Senior Portfolio Manager Izaskun Gaviria and Deputy General Counsel Natasha Heffinck. PM Shehbaz welcomed the delegation on arrival in Pakistan and underlined that the country valued its partnership with the Global Fund, the handout said, adding: “He highlighted that the government was committed to eliminating TB, HIV and malaria from the country and was making full efforts in this regard. “Your partnership is strengthening our efforts to eliminate HIV, tuberculosis and malaria from Pakistan,” the prime minister was quoted as saying. “He also directed the formation of a joint working group between the government of Pakistan and the Global Fund on the prevention of HIV/AIDS.” Officials of the Ministry of National Health Services apprised the delegation of the government’s efforts regarding the prevention of TB, HIV and malaria in Pakistan, it added. The delegation thanked the government for hosting it and appreciated the steps taken to eliminate TB, HIV and malaria, reiterating its partnership with Pakistan in efforts to eradicate these diseases.
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