The federal government is considering establishing a dedicated investment mechanism to enable overseas Pakistanis to invest in commercially viable infrastructure projects without directly setting up or managing businesses in the country.
Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Division Senator Ahad Cheema proposed creating an investment fund or similar platform for overseas Pakistanis. The proposed mechanism would offer transparent and commercially attractive investment opportunities, along with safeguards and clearly defined returns.
According to the government, the platform could channel savings held by overseas Pakistanis into productive national assets, including railway and highway projects. It could also provide an additional source of financing for Pakistan’s infrastructure development.
Advisor to the Prime Minister on Privatisation Muhammad Ali supported the proposal and agreed to examine the concept with a view to developing a workable investment framework.
The government also reviewed several projects under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) framework covering railways, highways, power, civic infrastructure, and airports.
Regarding the Main Line-1 (ML-1) railway project, Cheema said the government would prioritise financing from multilateral and development partners. Pakistan is pursuing the Karachi-Rohri section with the Asian Development Bank, while PPP financing may be considered for other sections as a secondary option.
Cheema also directed the Public Private Partnership Authority (P3A) to assess the Lahore-Rawalpindi section for a potential PPP model, which could help reduce travel time between the two cities.
The meeting also reviewed the Kharian-Rawalpindi Motorway project. Cheema instructed P3A, the National Highway Authority, and other relevant agencies to accelerate technical and preparatory work following approval from the Prime Minister’s Office.
In the power sector, the minister backed the Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) smart metering project under the PPP framework. He said modern metering systems could improve the operational and commercial performance of power distribution companies and support the government’s planned privatisation of distribution companies.
Officials also identified the Gandhara Culture project and the expansion of Capital Hospital as potential PPP opportunities.
The government further reviewed airport projects that are expected to be brought to market during 2027 and 2028.
Cheema directed authorities to refine the PPP project pipeline and convert commercially viable projects into bankable proposals with clear timelines. He also called for regular high-level reviews and instructed officials to present mature projects to the prime minister for consideration.
The proposed overseas investment platform, if developed, could provide expatriate Pakistanis with a structured way to participate in the country’s infrastructure development while helping the government mobilise additional private capital for major projects.
