Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Monday reaffirmed the government’s commitment to fast-tracking the privatization of state-owned enterprises (SOEs) under what he described as a transparent and structured framework.
He said 26 government-owned entities have already been handed over to the Privatization Commission, while additional institutions will be included in the next phase of the process.
Highlighting recent financial trends, Aurangzeb noted that SOE losses have declined over the past three years. Losses stood at Rs. 905 billion in 2023, decreased to Rs. 851 billion in 2024, and further dropped to Rs. 832 billion in 2025. According to the minister, this reduction amounts to savings of approximately Rs. 142 million per day during the period.
The government extended around Rs. 2.1 trillion in financial support to SOEs, he said, adding that despite this backing, the sector posted a net positive inflow of Rs. 40 billion in the last fiscal year.
Aurangzeb also pointed out that profits of certain otherwise profitable entities, including Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL), experienced a decline during the same period.
He stated that several loss-making organizations, such as the Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD), Utility Stores Corporation, and PASSCO, were shut down due to persistent issues including leakages, theft, and corruption in subsidy mechanisms.
The minister added that the First Women Bank and Pakistan International Airlines have already been privatized through what he termed transparent procedures, while the privatization of the Agricultural Development Bank is at an advanced stage.
Looking ahead, he said the government intends to privatize the House Building Finance Corporation along with five electricity distribution companies as part of efforts to reduce fiscal pressure and improve efficiency.
