ISLAMABAD: The Caretaker Federal Cabinet has approved the issuance of an ordinance to facilitate the privatization of government institutions, including PIA.
The establishment of an appellate tribunal dedicated to handling privatization-related petitions has been authorized, with its decisions holding precedence, subject to Supreme Court review.
The move aims to address legal challenges hindering the privatization process and meet demands from domestic and international investors.
Additionally, a new Ownership and Management Policy for Government Institutions in 2023 has been introduced, aligning with IMF criteria. The policy outlines comprehensive impacts on government-owned enterprises, emphasizing the retention of entities of national security or strategic importance under government control. Plans for the gradual privatization of commercial government enterprises are also included.
To expedite the privatization process and streamline legal proceedings, there are proposals to transfer pending cases to the newly proposed Appellate Tribunal.
The policy introduces restructuring for certain institutions, implementing strict selection criteria for key roles and shifting towards contractual recruitments in government institutions. Performance evaluations will influence job retention or dismissal, with a one-month notice period for unsatisfactory performance.
Within six months of policy implementation, categories for government-owned enterprises will be established, and internal audit procedures will be required.
A cabinet committee and a central monitoring unit dedicated to government-owned enterprises are also outlined, with a focus on recruiting competent personnel for effective oversight and analysis of business plans.
Two Petitions Challenging ECP’s Delimitations Struck Down In Initial Hearings
Meanwhile, challenges to the delimitations conducted by the Election Commission of Pakistan saw initial outcomes on Friday, as courts invalidated two petitions while mandating reviews for three others.
The Lahore High Court deliberated on petitions contesting the delimitations in the Punjab Assembly’s PP-35 Wazirabad and PP-59 Gakhar Mandi, along with the National Assembly’s NA-120 and 123 in Lahore.
Representatives of the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz, Atta Tarar, and Azam Nazeer Tarar, presented their case in the LHC on Friday. Tarar argued that alterations to NA-123 and PP-39 were against the law.
The petitions contended that one constituency witnessed a decrease in population while another experienced an increase, violating rules that impose limits on such changes.
The LHC nullified the delimitations in PP-35 and 59, directing the ECP to reassess NA-120 and NA-123.
