The Cabinet Committee on State-Owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs), chaired by Federal Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb, convened today at the Finance Division to discuss key issues related to the privatization and potential Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for Shalimar Recording and Broadcasting Company Limited (SRBC).
During the meeting, the Cabinet Committee reiterated its previous decision that SRBC, among other state-owned enterprises (SOEs), will not be classified as a strategic or essential entity. This means that SRBC will not be given special status under the current framework of essential SOEs, affirming the government’s stance on non-essential and non-strategic public sector businesses. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MoIB) was directed to adhere to this decision and proceed accordingly.
The meeting also focused on the implementation status of decisions made regarding various SOEs under the Cabinet Division, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Ministry of Petroleum, Ministry of Railways, and the Revenue Division. A presentation was provided, detailing six ongoing cases currently under implementation across these ministries. Two of the cases pertain to the Cabinet Division, while one case belongs to each of the other ministries involved.
The Committee emphasized the importance of ensuring the timely execution of all decisions and progress in these cases, underlining the government’s commitment to efficiently managing and reforming state-owned enterprises.
The meeting was attended by key figures, including Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Housing and Works Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Minister for Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh, Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), along with senior officers from the Finance Division. The attendees discussed the broader agenda of SOE reforms and the future direction for state-owned entities.
This meeting is part of Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to streamline and reform state-owned enterprises, focusing on privatization and improved governance. The decision to not classify SRBC as essential is a step toward aligning SOEs with market-driven approaches and enhancing efficiency in the public sector. The government is also exploring PPP models to ensure greater private sector involvement and reduce the fiscal burden of managing underperforming SOEs.