PCP, SCCI hold seminar on 'Public-Private Partnership'

Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP) and Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) jointly organised a one-day seminar on 'Public-Private Partnership' here on Saturday at Sialkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI). The purpose of seminar was to enhance the importance of public-private partnership and its impact on economies of developed and developing countires.
Addressing the seminar Member Implementation and Monitoring, PCP, Lieutenant General (Retd) Muhammad Zubair said that 'Public-Private Partnership' has been globally recognised as an essential mode of service delivery in physical and social infrastructure.
Both developed and developing countries are fast adapting to this efficient way of infrastructure development, he said, adding that through this partnership, the acclaimed advantages of the private sector, such as innovation, access to finance, knowledge of technology, managerial efficiency and entrepreneurial spirit are combined with social responsibility, environmental awareness and knowledge of the public sector.
Muhammad Zubair further said that present government is fully aware of the need of public-private partnership and wide-ranging reforms in this regard are on top agenda of the government.
Planning Commission is also taking necessary steps in the area of utmost national importance and a group renowned expert conducted a diagnostic study in Planning Commission in order to identify constraints in private sector investment in infrastructure, he added.
Besides pointing to many legal and regulatory gaps, the experts have highlighted an urgent need to develop adequate capacity at all tires of public machinery dealing with infrastructure development for equipping them with expertise to deal with public-private nitty-gritty, he maintained.
Muhammad Zubair further told that a high level committee has been constituted for follow-up on removal of the constraints identified in the diagnostic study adding that committee has started its work and focused initiatives on sectoral basis will be undertaken in near future. Planning Commission of Pakistan (PCP), he said he has started a project with a view to integrating and streamlining public-private partnership in the planning process.
He mentioned friends of Pakistan Forum for which planning Commission is preparing a list of projects, adding that we are pursuing a three-pronged strategy for the forum for ensuring financing from donor countries. In his address of welcome President SCCI, Hassan Ali Bhatti, said that there is a need for establishing a well-knit system of co-ordination and co-operation among all government agencies as well as private stakeholders, working area of socio-economic development.
Power generation has become dire need of hour and failing which the country would head towards crisis, he said. The SCCI President said we are determined to help the government in power generation and propose power generation project in public-private partnership to fulfill energy needs of the area. Dr Sania Nishtar also addressed the seminar.