Govt not considering privatizing Pakistan Steel Mills

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs Ali Muhammad Khan on Thursday informed the National Assembly that the government was not considering privatizing the Pakistan Steel Mills (PSM).

During question hour in the House, the minister said that PSM is a national asset of the country like other institutions including Pakistan Railways, Radio Pakistan, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) and others.

Ali Muhammad said that PSM was removed from the list of privatization and the government was committed to reviving the institution for converting it into a profitable entity.

He said the Privatization Commission successfully conducted five privatization transactions during 2014-18, generating proceeds amounting to Rs172.9 billion.

The minister said that the government has planned to privatize five to six institutions including Services Hospital Lahore, two banks, Jinnah Convention Center and others.

To another question, Ali Muhammad said that an international level research university will be constructed at the Prime Minister House as per the promise made by Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The minister said that no specific rules and regulations are available in Capital Development Authority (CDA) for permission of opening universities in residential areas of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).

For that purpose, the minister said that bylaws of CDA would be changed and the Higher Education Commission would move a summary to the Ministry of Interior.