Islamabad Capital Territory

Islamabad : ReNews Pakistan
The Federal Government Employees Housing Authority has approved the outsourcing of four amenity plots reserved for health and education facilities in Islamabad's G 13 and G 14 sectors. The plots will be used for a hospital, two dispensaries and a school under a proposed public private partnership and joint venture model.

According to officials, the projects will be developed under a Design, Build, Finance, Operate and Transfer model with an initial concession period of 20 years. The concession period may be extended for another 10 years under the proposed arrangement.

The FGEHA board has also authorised the authority to invite Expressions of Interest and Requests for Proposals through open competitive bidding. The process will allow private sector partners to be selected for financing, construction, operation and maintenance of the proposed facilities.

The identified sites include a 4,813 square yard plot for a hospital in G 14 Markaz, a 4,813 square yard plot for a dispensary in G 14/3, a 67 square yard plot for another dispensary in G 14/4 and a 333 square yard plot for a school in G 14/3.

Under the proposed arrangement, FGEHA will retain ownership of the land, while the selected private partner will be responsible for financing, constructing, operating and maintaining the facilities.

The developed infrastructure will be transferred back to FGEHA after the concession period expires. The authority expects the model to attract private investment and operational expertise while supporting the development of health and education facilities in populated and developing sectors of Islamabad.

FGEHA officials also informed the board that 13 school plots had previously been handed over to the Federal Directorate of Education for the development of schools and colleges. However, only two plots have so far been utilised due to limited government funding.

The authority expects the proposed outsourcing model to help put the identified amenity plots to productive use and facilitate the development of essential health and education infrastructure through private sector participation.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
The International Monetary Fund has urged Pakistan to continue taking measures to ensure fiscal stability, manage the growing debt burden and contain the rising circular debt in the energy sector.

The IMF review mission visiting Pakistan has also called for alternative sources of revenue to compensate for any potential loss in government income if a reduction in the petroleum levy is proposed.

According to sources, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb held a virtual meeting with the visiting IMF review mission led by Eva Petrova for the completion of the fourth review under the $7 billion Extended Fund Facility.

The Pakistani side assured the IMF that structural reforms would continue despite the start of the ongoing Gulf war. The government also indicated that the impact of higher fuel prices would be passed on to consumers, while targeted subsidies have been introduced to provide support to vulnerable segments of society.

The IMF expressed concern over Pakistan's rising debt burden, the growing volume of circular debt in the energy sector and the need to maintain continuity in structural reforms.

The Fund also stressed that tariff reforms under the National Tariff Plan should continue over the stipulated five year period. The implementation of the agreed tariff reform measures was discussed as part of the broader reform programme.

According to sources, the IMF also expressed concern over the government's failure to complete legislation relating to the sovereign wealth fund. Both sides may make further progress towards agreeing on a new deadline for the relevant structural benchmark so that approval can be obtained from Parliament within the current calendar year.

The discussions covered fiscal stability, energy sector circular debt, tariff reforms, petroleum levy, structural reforms and measures aimed at maintaining the agreed fiscal framework.

The Pakistani authorities reiterated their commitment to continuing the reform process and taking measures to meet the fiscal and structural targets under the Extended Fund Facility, while protecting vulnerable segments through targeted support.

Islamabad | ReNews Pakistan
Four Pakistani refineries that signed agreements with the government on September 24 for major brownfield upgrades have yet to formally submit their detailed project plans to Inter State Gas Systems.

Inter State Gas Systems is a government owned company designated to oversee the implementation of refinery upgrade projects and manage the associated upgrade incentive accounts.

The four refineries that signed the agreements are Attock Refinery Limited, National Refinery Limited, Pakistan Refinery Limited and Cnergyico Pakistan Limited.

The refineries have committed to investments aimed at improving the production capacity and quality of petroleum products in the country. Their planned investments include green fuel production, bottom of the barrel conversion, expansion of production capacity and improvement in the quality of petroleum products.

According to sources, the projects are currently at different stages of engineering, technical assessment and feasibility studies. The detailed plans are therefore yet to be finalised and formally submitted to Inter State Gas Systems.

The brownfield refinery upgrade programme is aimed at modernising existing refining facilities and improving their technical and production capabilities. The projects are also expected to support increased production of higher value petroleum products and improve the overall quality of refined products.

The proposed investments are expected to include upgrades in processing facilities, conversion capabilities and production systems. However, the final scope and implementation timelines of the individual projects will become clearer once the detailed engineering and feasibility plans are formally submitted.

The four refineries will also be required to complete further technical and administrative processes with the relevant government authorities as part of the implementation of their respective upgrade agreements.

The development is part of the broader effort to modernise Pakistan's existing refining infrastructure, improve the domestic production of petroleum products and enhance the capacity of local refineries to meet changing market requirements.