On May 15, 2026, a workshop on “Public Private Partnership” was held at the National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), Lahore, for participants of the 46th Mid-Career Management Course (MCMC). The workshop was conducted by De Wasif Ali Memon, a former officer of the Pakistan Customs Service, currently serving as Chairman, Sindh Revenue Board. The workshop comprised three sessions: a presentation by the guest speaker, a question-and-answer session, and practical exercise for participants.
Dr. Memon commenced his presentation by explaining the concept of Public Private Partnership (PPP) and its key characteristics, including the long-term nature of contracts, risk allocation, performance related criteria, and private financing, He then discussed the history of PPP in Pakistan, highlighting Sindh’s leading role in enacting the country’s first PPP Act in 2010. Though, he underscored, Punjab was the first Province to undertake a PPP project. He proceeded to ouλίας. various PPP methods, such as Build Operate Transfer (BOT), Design-Build-Finance Operate (DBF-0), and Joint Ventures (JVs). He further elaborated on PPP modalities, specifically addressing financial, institutional, and regulatory aspects. Dr. Memon listed various benefits of PPPs, including their capacity to mobilize private investment, enhance efficiency, facilitate risk sharing, improve service quality, accelerate project delivery, ensure cost-effectiveness, and provide access to technology and innovation. However, he added, PPPs also present several challenges, such as complexity, lack of transparency, long term commitments, frequent contract renegotiations, and the potential for private parties to profit at public expense.
The presentation was followed by a question-and-answer session, where participants asked several perceptive questions which he guest speaker addressed. During the third session, the class was divided into two groups and tasked with drafting two PPP contract based on parameters provided by the guest speaker. Each group’s document was subsequently presented by a designated representative. The Guest Speaker evaluated the groups’ work and provided his candid remarks for further improvement.