ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday said that stern action would be initiated against officers found to be creating hurdles in the identification of non-utilised government-owned properties.
The prime minister during a meeting over the utilisation of the numerous properties owned by different ministries and federal departments said that in the past, non-utilisation of the government’s assets in an effective manner had manifested criminal negligence.
The prime minister directed asset management committee, relevant federal ministries, and provincial governments to resolve all matters pertaining to the identified properties within a week, so that decision over their proper utilization could be implemented.
Privatization Secretary Rizwan Malik apprised the meeting about the progress made in the proper utilisation of properties owned by different ministries and federal government departments and their possible privatisation.
He said under the decisions of the federal cabinet, during the months of February to March, every ministry was tasked to identify at least three such properties. In the first phase, different ministries had identified 32 such properties so far.
The secretary added that services of a financial adviser were hired in October for making assessment value of these properties, and giving final shape to the future mechanism in this regard.
He said that marketing for these properties would be held at the Dubai Expo to entice overseas Pakistanis and other investors towards such precious assets.
The prime minister said that proper utilization of these properties and lands worth billions of rupees which had been kept unused for years and spending of income generated from their use upon the public welfare and provision of basic facilities like schools, colleges, and hospitals, were the significant parts of the government’s policy.
He observed that different federal departments and institutions had been running into annual losses despite having such precious assets.
