Ishaq Dar, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister, gave the Senate the assurance that consultation with all coalition partners would take place over the privatization process, with a focus on accountability and openness.
In his speech to the Senate, Dar pledged to uphold transparency in the process as the head of the Cabinet Committee for Privatization (CCOP).
He drew attention to Pakistan Steel Mills’ financial problems and questioned whether it would be possible to sustain more losses.
Dar criticized earlier administrations for their inability to address the long-standing privatization issues with Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), which date back to the days of General Musharraf.
He said that Etisalat had devalued the assets of PTCL because just a small portion of its assets had been handed to them.
Dar also reaffirmed Pakistan’s backing for Palestine and provided an overview of the nation’s initiatives in global fora like the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
He declared that financial aid will be provided to Palestinian medical students so they may finish their studies in Pakistan.
