ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday directed officials to complete all stages of the government’s privatisation programme within the prescribed timelines, stressing that the privatisation of Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited (ZTBL) should protect its core mandate of supporting the agricultural sector.
Presiding over a meeting on the privatisation of state-owned enterprises, the prime minister instructed the relevant ministries and institutions to work in close coordination to ensure that all targets and deadlines under the privatisation programme were met.
He said the privatisation structure for ZTBL should be designed in a way that safeguards the bank’s primary role in agricultural financing, adding that the institution should continue to prioritise lending and financial services for small and medium-sized farmers after privatisation.
PM Shehbaz said improving farmers’ access to financial resources was essential for increasing per-acre agricultural productivity, adding that agricultural development remained critical to the country’s economic growth and food security.
Privatisation ministry officials told the meeting that the transaction structure was being designed to protect ZTBL’s agricultural lending mandate.
The officials briefed the meeting on progress under the government’s privatisation programme and future targets. The meeting was told that 27 state-owned enterprises were included in the programme, which was being implemented in three phases.
According to the briefing, the financial closing process for the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and First Women Bank has been completed.
The officials said the first financial closing and transfer of management control of PIA were completed on June 29, 2026.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the planned privatisation of Islamabad Electric Supply Company (Iesco), Faisalabad Electric Supply Company (Fesco) and Gujranwala Electric Power Company (Gepco).
The officials said expressions of interest had been invited, with submission deadlines set for Aug 7 for Fesco, Aug 21 for Gepco and Sept 7 for Iesco. International investors have expressed interest in the transactions, while investor roadshows were continuing, the meeting was told.
The meeting also reviewed progress on the planned privatisation of Islamabad International Airport, Jinnah International Airport in Karachi and Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore.
Published in Dawn, August 4th, 2026