Public Private Partnership Authority’s administrative control shifted to Privatisation Division

The federal government has transferred administrative control of the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) from the Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Division to the Privatisation Division, according to a news report. 

Officials said the decision was aimed at strengthening the role of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation and increasing private sector participation in infrastructure and development projects.

Under the Public Private Partnership Authority Act, 2017, the authority is responsible for providing the legal and regulatory framework for developing, executing and implementing public-private partnership transactions.

The authority also facilitates federal implementing agencies in structuring, developing and procuring infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership model.

According to the framework, the P3A board is authorised to approve projects considered capable of delivering value-for-money solutions for the public sector while maintaining financially viable structures for private investors.

The government later introduced the Public Private Partnership Authority (Amendment) Ordinance, 2020 to simplify project development, appraisal and approval procedures.

Under the amended framework, P3A directly handles only projects classified as “Qualified” projects, while projects outside that category can be undertaken by implementing agencies with approval from their principal accounting officers.

The ordinance also streamlined the approval process to enable quicker decisions by the authority’s board.

Officials said P3A would continue to provide advisory and facilitation support to implementing agencies for project development, structuring, procurement and implementation, including projects outside the “Qualified” category.

The amended framework also allows private sector entities to submit unsolicited proposals for projects not initially identified by the government but considered suitable for implementation under public-private partnership arrangements.