IPDF processing 44 PPP projects worth $1.4 bn
ISLAMABAD: A high level meeting on Tuesday was informed that Infrastructure Project Development Facility (IPDF) is currently processing some 44 projects worth approximately $1.4 billion under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in CNG Buses Project in Karachi urban mass transport, roads, energy and municipal services.
Federal Minister for Finance Dr. Salman Shah, while chairing the board meeting of the IPDF here said that the newly approved PPP Policy of the government of Pakistan will enhance the confidence of private investors to invest in Pakistans infrastructure opportunities.
The IPDF board meeting was attended by its members including Secretary Finance Division Ahmad Waqar, Dr. sania Nishter, Mr. Salim Raza, Shehzad Ata Elahi, CEO, IPDF, Aijaz Ahmed. Dr. Ashfaq Hasan Khan, Special Secretary Finance, Senior representatives of Ministry of Finance and IPDF also attended the meeting.
Dr. Salman Shah emphasized the need for creating an enabling environment though a combination of policy reforms, institutional support, incentives and financing modalities to encourage private sector participation in the financing and managing of infrastructure projects. He stated that the Public Private Partnership policy would go a long way in this regard.
In this context, Dr. Ashfaq Hasan Khan presented the Risk Management Framework to ensure the sustainability of the development of infrastructure projects under the PPP modality. The meeting also reviewed IPDFs project pipeline currently consisting of 44 projects worth approximately $1.4 billion and emphasized the need for building a robust pipeline of projects in urban mass transport, roads, energy and municipal services. The board, while reviewing the project pipeline emphasized the need for the requisite institutional and administrative measures to support this effort.
While reviewing the progress on specific projects, the board was updated on the pilot Charsadda Solid Waste Management project and the CNG Buses Project in Karachi. The Nazim of Charsadda Tehsil Municipal Administration Mian Manzoor Ahmed and Director General, Karachi Mass Transport Cell City District Government Karachi Malik Zaheer-ul-Islam attended the meeting by special invitation for their related items.
The meeting directed that all concerned should extend all support to make these projects successful as these projects would not only help alleviate the sanitation and transportation problems facing the citizens of Charsadda and Karachi but would also have a visible demonstrable effect on the development of infrastructure projects under the PPP modality.
A number of initiatives are already under way, including, Islamabad IT Park, Multipurpose Water Reservoirs, FBR Automation Project and Kalinger Water Supply. Some other projects proposed to be implemented under the PPP Modality, include: Islamabad Rawalpindi Mass Transit Project, Karachi circular rail, Bus Rapid Transit System Karachi, Intra-City Bus Terminal Facilities Karachi, Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas road, Building of Bridges in Sindh over river Indus, Lahore and Faisalabad Solid Waste Management, Lahore and Faisalabad Water Metering and Billing systems and Office Complexes in Islamabad.
The meeting was also apprised about the Pakistan Investors Conference scheduled for April 2008 wherein a number of infrastructure projects will be showcased to potential investors, operators and financiers. The multi-faceted forum will primarily serve as an investors conference, bringing together various stakeholders from within Pakistan and around the world.
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