On Monday, November 13, 2023, Dr. Khaqan Hassan Najeeb, former advisor. Ministry of Finance, Pakistan and a macro economist delivered a lecture to the participants of 34^th SMC on “State Owned Entities & Privatization Process in Pakistan”.

The guest speaker started his talk by highlighting the extreme level of administrative, policy and structural challenges being faced by Pakistan. He focused on the losses of State-Owned Entities of the power sector, while also dilating upon the huge losses being sustained by PIA. He said PIA’s losses would be Rs 153 billion this year. He stressed upon the need for having sector specialists within the government sector. He said that only experts of respective fields with the right kind of skill/knowledge can run companies properly. Even for policy making. their expertise should be utilized. The guest speaker felt strongly that the government needs to come out of running companies, and the let the private sector manage them. This would also help in expanding market and creating competition. Hence, the case for privatization to be seriously pursued.