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Pakistan’s caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, on Monday, announced to the public that Saudi Arabia will make an investment of up to $25 billion over the next few years in a variety of sectors and that his administration will also restart the privatization process that had once been slowed down.

IMF Loan and Saudi Investment Boost Pakistan’s Economic Recovery

Following the successful prevention of defaulting on its loans in July thanks to a $3 billion loan plan agreed upon by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Pakistan is starting down a difficult road to economic recovery under the caretaker administration.

Addressing the media at his residence, PM Kakar said that Saudi Arabia will invest in mining, agriculture, and IT sectors as part of plans to increase FDI in Pakistan.

Saudi Arabia’s $25 Billion Investment in Pakistan

This will be a great amount of investment by Saudi Arabia in Pakistan. If confirmed by state officials, the total investment would be $25 billion, which will be the biggest investment in Pakistan by the country.

Pakistan, a close friend of Riyadh, is currently facing a situation where it’s struggling to maintain a healthy balance in its payments. It requires a significant investment of foreign currency to cover its trade deficit and meet its international loan obligations for this fiscal year.

PM Kakar did not name the projects that Saudi was interested in doing an investment in. Just last month, Barrick Gold Corp expressed its willingness to collaborate with the Saudi Arabian sovereign wealth fund in developing Pakistan’s Reko Diq gold and copper mine.

Pakistan’s Rich Mineral Deposits and Privatization Initiatives

The Interim administration has currently estimated that Pakistan’s undeveloped mineral deposits are at a conservative amount of $6 trillion.

Barrick Gold, owning half of the Reko Diq mine, sees it as one of the most promising yet unexplored areas for copper and gold globally. The other half is owned jointly by the governments of Pakistan and the Balochistan province.

In addition, Kakar stated that his administration would work hard on privatizing government-owned companies outside the energy industry, along with completing two privatization deals over the next six months, these are likely to involve government-owned businesses in the power industry.

Pakistan Takes Bold Step Toward Privatizing Troubled State-Owned Enterprises

State-owned enterprises in Pakistan have been a cause for concern due to their declining financial health over time. Pakistan has taken a significant step by including the financially troubled state-run Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the list of entities slated for privatization.

PIA’s financial problems made it clear that it needs restructuring and restructuring to expand, as it also coincides with government efforts to improve the efficiency and sustainability of the public sector This move also reflects the government’s efforts to it will address the economic challenges faced by Pakistan and increase productivity in the public sector will play departments.

Privatization Challenges in Pakistan

The privatization process in the country has almost ground to a halt, primarily because selling state-owned assets has consistently been a politically sensitive matter that numerous elected governments have steered clear of addressing.

Over the years, privatization has been an issue in the politics of Pakistan. Many elected governments have been scared after privatization due to concerns about potential backlash, public sentiment, and perceived impact on employment and social welfare.

Challenges of Privatization and Public Interest in Pakistan

This historical reluctance stems from a variety of sources. Generally, the sale of private property to private companies may lead to fears of job losses, changes in the service sector, and concerns about the impact on vulnerable populations Consequently, successive governments did not want to push the privatization process, resulting in a slow transition to state-owned enterprises.

Despite historical reluctance, there is increasing recognition of the need to balance efforts to provide private goods with the need to protect the public interest and maintain social welfare programs This delicate balance poses a major challenge for the development of private participation programs in Pakistan.